Check out my Sunday (4-5-26) Santa Anita Park Race 3 analysis below.
SA 3 (OC-50k/1x, 8T) – Post Time 4:04 PM ET
Primary – #6 ROMANTIC RIDE, #1 Ventry Strand
Secondary – #2 Uecker, #3 Scatalotadingdong
Horse Comments:
#6 Romantic Ride (5-2) ran well in all four sprints. He exits back-to-back local turf sprint wins and Vladimir Cerin is 4-for-11 first route. Tiago Pereira got to know him last time and his stalking style might play well at one mile.
#1 Ventry Strand (9-5) was the favorite in his 5T bow (CA-bred MSW) and he rallied from 9th to win by a length, and show finished Mo Holland Drive was a next-out winner. He broke 11th in the Speakeasy at 5T second time out and rallied through traffic to finish fourth, and runner-up Bacio was a sharp next-out winner. He had a troubled trip and was 5th of 7 as the beaten favorite at 5T Nov. 23. He added lasix and bounced back with a closing win as the even money favorite at 6T Jan. 19. He stretched out and rallied to miss by a half-length at 8T Feb. 21. This is his third start off a layoff and his regular pilot Hector Berrios won two turf races on Saturday.
#2 Uecker (5-1) stretched out, switched surfaces, set the pace, and missed by a neck at one mile on dirt March 20. He won his 5T bow and might be the target.
#3 Scatalotadingdong (6-1) chased from second and graduated in a local 8T affair Feb. 13. He disappointed on dirt last time and is back on turf in his third start off a layoff.
Wagers:
#6 to win
Exacta box 1-6
Trifecta 1-6/1-2-3-6/1-2-3-6
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
March 18 – Dienekes/Up Country Exacta ($51.16)
March 20 – Rethink/Ou La La/Prestige Fungson Trifecta ($107.80)
March 22 – Uncle Evco ($4.60)
March 23 – Cornishman ($2.80)
March 24 – Vekoma Kid ($5.40)
March 26 – Desert Gate ($2.80), Exacta ($5.00)
March 27 – Still Unwritten ($6.20), Exacta ($12.40)
March 29 – Cornucopian ($2.60)
April 2 – Charlie’s Curlin ($5.60)
April 3 – Joint Venture ($3.60)
April 4 – Meaning ($3.80)
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