Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Wednesday, December 31, 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
2 2 Warm Reception 2.50 1 2-1
5 5 Suntory Time 3.50 1.3 3-1
8 8 French Moonlight 4.50 1.7 3-1
4 4 Benster 5.00 1.8 3-1
1 1 Syntax 6.00 2.2 4-1
7 7 Tis Sunrise 8.00 2.8 5-1
6 6 Mperfection 15.00 5.1 10-1
9 9 Danzig Til Dawn 20.00 6.7 13-1
3 3 Green Zone 20.00 6.7 13-1
10 10 Silver Flirt 30.00 10 19-1

RACE NUMBER 2 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Del Mar Jerry 2.00 1 2-1
5 5 Normandy Landing 2.50 1.3 2-1
2 2 Clooney 3.50 1.8 3-1
3 3 Voldemort 4.00 2 4-1
6 6 Feel the Magic 6.00 3 6-1
4 4 Runaway Charlie 12.00 6 11-1

RACE NUMBER 3 (Claiming) – Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Betterdaysrcoming (IRE) 2.50 1 2-1
7 7 Player B 3.50 1.6 3-1
11 11 Simplexity (IRE) 4.00 1.9 4-1
4 4 Hacking It Up 4.50 2.1 4-1
2 2 Minister Shane 5.00 2.4 5-1
6 6 Please Focus 5.00 2.4 5-1
5 5 Irish Royalty 8.00 4.1 8-1
9 9 Commander (FR) 8.00 4.1 8-1
10 10 Crosby Beach 10.00 5.3 10-1
3 3 Dakota Country 12.00 6.4 12-1
1 1 Binging 20.00 11 21-1

RACE NUMBER 4 (Claiming) – Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
3 3 Maniatic (IRE) 3.00 1 2-1
4 4 Crypto Ride 3.50 1.6 3-1
5 5 Resemblance 4.00 2.2 4-1
7 7 Spun Not Stirred 4.50 2.8 5-1
1 1 Contrary Chieftain 5.00 3.4 6-1
2 2 Taishan 6.00 4.6 9-1
6 6 Big Juanito 8.00 7 13-1

RACE NUMBER 5 (Eddie Logan S.) – Eddie Logan S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Stark Contrast 1.60 1 2-1
2 2 Plutarch 2.00 1.1 2-1
3 3 Iriseach (IRE) 5.00 2.1 4-1
7 7 Unrivaled Time 6.00 2.4 5-1
1 1 Third Beer 8.00 3.1 6-1
6 6 Caro Buono (FR) 12.00 4.4 8-1
5 5 Brigante 20.00 7 13-1

RACE NUMBER 6 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Red Hot 2.50 1 2-1
3 3 Joker Went Wild 3.00 1.2 2-1
2 2 Tommy Norris 3.50 1.5 3-1
9 9 Benny and the Jet 6.00 2.6 5-1
7 7 My Bodacious Boy 8.00 3.5 7-1
8 8 Tiggrrr Whitworth 12.00 5.3 10-1
6 6 Carl Erskine 15.00 6.7 13-1
4 4 Rand Good 15.00 6.7 13-1
1 1 Omission 20.00 9 17-1

RACE NUMBER 7 (Robert J. Frankel S.) – Robert J. Frankel S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Public Assembly 1.60 1 2-1
6 6 Paradise Lake 2.00 1.1 2-1
4 4 As Catch Can 4.00 1.5 3-1
5 5 Watchtower 5.00 1.7 3-1
2 2 Sun Of Hill (BRZ) 10.00 2.8 5-1
7 7 Mahina 12.00 3.2 6-1
3 3 Ima Joker 30.00 7 13-1

RACE NUMBER 8 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Cherry Cider 2.50 1 2-1
10 10 Lady Detective 4.50 2 4-1
3 3 Red Cherry 5.00 2.3 4-1
8 8 Kizazi 6.00 2.8 5-1
6 6 Little Opal 8.00 3.8 7-1
4 4 Tokala 8.00 3.8 7-1
7 7 Feisty Red Head 10.00 4.9 9-1
9 9 Ethereal Quality 12.00 5.9 11-1
2 2 Greys Over Bays 12.00 5.9 11-1
1 1 Sugar Reign 20.00 10 19-1

RACE NUMBER 9 (Maiden Claiming) – Maiden Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
9 9 Babe Ruthless 1.50 1 2-1
3 3 Lorenzo Bernini 2.00 1.2 2-1
10 10 Midway Lane 4.00 1.9 4-1
4 4 Fight Back 4.50 2.1 4-1
11 11 Iron (FR) 6.00 2.6 5-1
1 1 Both Sides of Bad 8.00 3.3 6-1
6 6 Interplay 12.00 4.7 9-1
7 7 Wasting Aces 20.00 7.5 14-1
2 2 Missile Cruiser 20.00 7.5 14-1
5 5 Grandisimo 20.00 7.5 14-1
8 8 Stormin Midnight 30.00 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.