Check out my Friday (10-2-26) Santa Anita Park Race 9 analysis below.
SA 9 (MSW, 8T) – Post Time 8:07 PM ET
Primary – #3 VENDETTA, #1 D’yquem
Secondary – #8 Forewarn, #4 Royal Pearl, #5 Starfinder
Horse Comments:
#3 Vendetta (8-5) was a troubled 4th of 6 in her MSW 8T bow and 5th of 9 in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf second time out. Richard Mandella’s Curlin filly is back in the maiden ranks and her stakes-winning dam Avenge has tossed three turf winners.
#1 D’yquem (5-1) was 5-1 in her 8T debut at DMR Sept. 5 and she chased from second and was best of the rest in third. Michael McCarthy is 19% with his second grass starters and she shows a pair of local works for this. She should be forwardly placed from the inside post.
#8 Forewarn (5-1) was a distant third in her dirt sprint bow, and she had an uncomfortable trip when finishing 6th of 10 as the beaten favorite at 8T Sept. 5 (D’yquem 3rd). She adds blinkers and Umberto Rispoli stays put.
#4 Royal Pearl (5-2) was beaten a total of 30 lengths in her first two dirt sprints and she took some money both times (6-1, 5-1). Mandaloun is 18% with first turf runners and dam has tossed a turf winner. Juan Hernandez takes the call and they paid $425k for this one.
#5 Starfinder (15-1) switched surfaces and had an uncomfortable trip when splitting a 10-horse field at 8T Sept. 5 (D’yquem 3rd). Joel Rosario got to know her last time and he wins races with Peter Miller.
Wagers:
#3 to win
Trifecta key 3/1-4-5-8
Trifecta 1-4-5-8/3/1-4-5-8
$1 Super High Five: 3/1-8/1-8/4-5/4-5 ($4)
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Sept. 13 – Dustem Too ($7.20)
Sept. 14 – Duration ($8.20), Exacta ($21.60)
Sept. 16 – Bob’s Carrot ($6.98)
Sept. 19 – San Siro ($8.60), Exacta ($18.00)
Sept. 20 – Jasmina ($4.00)
Sept. 23 – Memory/Pagode Exacta ($39.28)
Sept. 28 – Sealand/Kid Rich/Frenchman James Trifecta ($54.40)
Sept. 29 – Calvin’s Ride ($2.20)
Oct. 1 Kathynmarissa ($4.68), Trifecta ($251.84)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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