Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Sunday, December 28, 2025

Below is a table for each race of the day. The table is ordered by our algorythmically calculated expected order of finish. Our program takes into account past performances, workout times, speed ratings, recency, and breeder/jockey data amoung other data points.

Using the “Expected” column, the lower number is better. When there is a clear lowest value, we like that horse best to win. In situations where many horses share low numbers, we like those horses equally well. If no horse is under 3, the results are less clear to us and bettors should examine the race more closely.

Using the “Value” column, we present the minimum payout we would recommend betting the particular horse. Look for higher-paying odds than those listed if you like that horse.

Scratches are notated and will be updated as available.

RACE NUMBER 1 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Island Home 5.00 1 2-1
12 12 Ramayana 3.00 1.2 2-1
6 6 Heavenly Belle 20.00 3.2 6-1
2 2 Improbable U 3.50 3.3 6-1
8 8 Chair’s Coin (IRE) 4.50 3.4 6-1
1 1 Photogenic 30.00 4.6 9-1
10 10 Luckiest 6.00 4.7 9-1
3 3 Springline 12.00 4.7 9-1
5 5 Authentically 20.00 6.8 13-1
11 11 Angel Baby 30.00 7.3 14-1
7 7 Split 30.00 9.1 17-1
9 9 Ibiza Flavor 30.00 10.6 20-1
14 14 Bailarina 6.00 SCRATCH
13 13 Soul Sister 15.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 2 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
6 6 Plagarist 10.00 1 2-1
7 7 Captain Shreve 4.00 1.4 3-1
3 3 Secured Freedom 8.00 1.6 3-1
1 1 Winston Ave 1.80 1.6 3-1
2 2 Liam Smith 6.00 2.3 4-1
5 5 Commissioned 12.00 3.4 6-1
4 4 Newton 2.50 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 3 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Runamileinmyshoes 3.50 1 2-1
9 9 Miss Artois 10.00 1.4 3-1
12 12 Take Another Card 12.00 1.8 3-1
5 5 Toes 5.00 2.3 4-1
3 3 Candy Bar 8.00 2.7 5-1
10 10 My Perfect Wave 6.00 2.9 5-1
1 1 Corporal Violette (IRE) 12.00 3.1 6-1
11 11 Starts Now 15.00 3.5 7-1
7 7 Delightful Laura 5.00 3.8 7-1
6 6 Royal Charter (GB) 12.00 6.6 12-1
2 2 Firsttimeinforever 30.00 7.1 13-1
8 8 Queen Sienna (ARG) 20.00 12 23-1

RACE NUMBER 4 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
2 2 Rizzleberry Rose 3.50 1 2-1
3 3 Miss Practical 4.50 4.7 9-1
12 12 Diva Cat 6.00 4.8 9-1
13 13 Wishtheyallcouldbe 5.00 6.3 12-1
7 7 Buds N Suds 30.00 7.8 15-1
9 9 Cayucos 15.00 8.9 17-1
5 5 Perfect Life 30.00 9 17-1
1 1 Brookys Gal 20.00 9.3 18-1
8 8 Honey Bucket 12.00 10 19-1
10 10 Clubhouse Bride 10.00 10.3 19-1
11 11 Sexy Blue 20.00 10.7 20-1
6 6 Timekeeper’s Charm 6.00 11.2 21-1
4 4 Cloudy Rose 30.00 13 25-1

RACE NUMBER 5 (Mathis Mile S.) – Mathis Mile S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Friendly Confines 3.50 1 2-1
6 6 Lyle The Crocodile (IRE) 12.00 1 2-1
3 3 Namaron (GER) 1.50 1 2-1
2 2 Tempus Volat 4.50 2.1 4-1
1 1 Hiding in Honduras 6.00 3.2 6-1
4 4 Geometry 12.00 4.3 8-1
7 7 Maaz (FR) 5.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 6 (Laffit Pincay, Jr. S.) – Laffit Pincay, Jr. S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Nysos 0.60 1 2-1
3 3 Nevada Beach 2.00 1 2-1
2 2 Vodka Vodka 15.00 2.4 5-1
6 6 Indispensable 8.00 3.5 7-1
7 7 Bartholdy 12.00 3.6 7-1
4 4 Cornishman 30.00 5.2 10-1
5 5 British Isles 30.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 7 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
7 7 Yacowlef (IRE) 8.00 1 2-1
10 10 Hotrocket (IRE) 8.00 2 4-1
1 1 Anmer Hall 3.50 2.2 4-1
8 8 Mucho Del Oro 6.00 3.3 6-1
6 6 Mescalero 15.00 3.5 7-1
11 11 Ballyvaughan Gig 15.00 3.6 7-1
4 4 Proof He Rides 10.00 4.4 8-1
3 3 Winning Patriot 5.00 4.9 9-1
5 5 Legitimate 12.00 5.2 10-1
9 9 I’mgonnabesomebody 15.00 6.2 12-1
12 12 Katonah 10.00 6.6 13-1
2 2 Sneaking Candy 15.00 7.1 13-1
14 14 Doncic 6.00 SCRATCH
13 13 Charge for Gold 10.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 8 (La Brea S. Presented By Don Julio) – La Brea S. Presented By Don Julio

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Usha 4.50 1 2-1
9 9 Formula Rossa 3.00 2.6 5-1
6 6 Brilliantly 6.00 2.9 5-1
1 1 Simply Joking 20.00 3.9 7-1
8 8 Her Laugh 6.00 4 8-1
3 3 Five G 3.50 4 8-1
4 4 Artisma 15.00 4.1 8-1
11 11 Silent Law 10.00 4.8 9-1
2 2 So There She Was 15.00 5 9-1
7 7 Schilflied 50.00 8.4 16-1
10 10 Magnificat 20.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 9 (San Gabriel S.) – San Gabriel S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
3 3 Endlessly 6.00 1 2-1
4 4 Stay Hot 4.00 3.1 6-1
2 2 Mondego (GB) 8.00 4.6 9-1
11 11 Nineeleventurbo 10.00 5.1 10-1
6 6 Nesso’s Lastharrah 30.00 5.6 11-1
5 5 St Anthony 5.00 5.9 11-1
8 8 Astronomer 4.50 7.4 14-1
9 9 Cabo Spirit 8.00 7.6 14-1
10 10 Flashiest 20.00 8.3 16-1
7 7 Suchet (FR) 6.00 9.9 19-1
1 1 Twirling Point 20.00 11 21-1

RACE NUMBER 10 (Malibu S.) – Malibu S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Midland Money 3.50 1 2-1
1 1 Modus Bestia 15.00 3.5 7-1
4 4 Speedy Wilson 15.00 3.9 7-1
6 6 Berlin Wall 20.00 4 8-1
3 3 Madaket Road 5.00 4.3 8-1
10 10 Goal Oriented 5.00 4.4 8-1
7 7 Smooth Cruisein 30.00 6.9 13-1
9 9 Barnes 3.00 SCRATCH
8 8 Cornucopian 3.50 SCRATCH
2 2 Spenard 30.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 11 (American Oaks Presented By Cygames) – American Oaks Presented By Cygames

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Slick (IRE) 20.00 1 2-1
3 3 Cliffs 6.00 2.3 4-1
10 10 Atsila (IRE) 2.50 2.9 6-1
2 2 Will Then 3.50 5 10-1
11 11 Ribbons 15.00 6.2 12-1
8 8 Totally Justified 5.00 6.7 13-1
7 7 Resolve 30.00 9.4 18-1
6 6 Take A Breath (GB) 15.00 10.5 20-1
9 9 As Catch Can 8.00 10.7 20-1
1 1 A Thousand Miles 30.00 10.8 20-1
4 4 Ambaya 8.00 11 21-1

Picks are based on historical performance and match-up. Keep up to date on late scratches and other changes – those are not taken into consideration. Sports from the Basement provides no warranty on these suggestions and readers should make picks at their own risk.