Affirmed Stakes 2026 Analysis (6-15-26)

The Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park returns to the racing calendar on Monday after originally being scheduled for June 11. A power outage interrupted racing midway through the card last week, forcing officials to cancel the remaining races, including the Affirmed Stakes. With Santa Anita adding an extra day of racing, the race has been brought back with a slightly altered field.

One notable addition is Litmus Test, who was not entered in the original version of the race. His presence adds a new dimension to the handicapping puzzle and gives bettors a proven graded stakes performer to consider.

Court of Appeal Faces Class Challenge

Court of Appeal enters as a 30-1 outsider for trainer Vladimir Cerin. A two-time winner from six starts, the gelding scored in a maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs and later picked up a sprint victory at Turf Paradise.

While the return to dirt should help, he faces a substantial class hike against much tougher competition. His pedigree suggests he should handle the distance, but this appears to be a demanding assignment.

Litmus Test Gets Class Relief

Litmus Test was originally entered in the Delaware Derby before trainer Bob Baffert redirected him to this race after the schedule change. The 7-5 morning-line favorite owns the strongest resume in the field.

The colt captured the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and finished third in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes earlier this year. While his efforts in the Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby were disappointing, the drop from Grade 1 company into a listed stakes event represents significant class relief.

A forwardly placed trip from post two could put him in an ideal position throughout.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

San Juan Capistrano Stakes Analysis (6-14-26)

Santa Anita’s closing-weekend feature is Sunday’s Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, a $100,000 turf marathon contested at the demanding distance of 1 3/4 miles. The race attracted a field of ten older horses.

The race serves as a true test of stamina, and with several entrants stepping into unfamiliar territory distance-wise, handicappers will need to determine which horses can maintain their finishing kick over the extended journey.

Pace Picture

One of the more interesting aspects of this race is the apparent lack of early speed.

Goldeneye appears to be the most likely pacesetter, with Poor Connection potentially sitting close from the outside post. Beyond those two, most of the field does its best running from off the pace.

That could result in a tactical affair where positioning becomes just as important as numbers.

The Favorite: Gold Phoenix Still the Horse to Beat

It’s impossible to discuss this race without starting with Gold Phoenix.

The veteran eight-year-old has built an impressive resume, earning more than $2.3 million while competing almost exclusively in graded stakes company. His recent seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs looks disappointing on paper, but a troubled trip contributed to that result.

Before that effort, Gold Phoenix captured the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita over 1 1/2 miles, proving once again that long-distance turf racing remains his specialty.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Delaware Derby 2026 Video Picks (6-13-26)

Delaware Derby video picks at Delaware Park (6-13-26). 

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Pegasus Stakes 2026 Video Picks (6-13-26)

Pegasus Stakes video picks at Monmouth Park (6-13-26). 

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Possibly Perfect Stakes Analysis (6-12-26)

The featured race at Santa Anita on Friday, June 12, is the $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes, a turf event for fillies and mares contested at 1¼ miles.

The race has drawn a competitive field of nine runners and several entrants appear capable of making an impact. Let’s meet the field.

#1 Watchtower

Watchtower enters the race at 6-1 on the morning line for trainer Richard Baltas. The biggest challenge with this mare is consistency. She has shown flashes of quality, including a close third-place finish in a Grade 3 earlier this year, but her recent efforts have been uneven. If she brings her best race, she can compete, but handicappers are left guessing which version will show up.

#2 Resolve

Resolve looks like a major contender in this field. Trained by Leonard Powell, she enters off a determined victory at 1⅛ miles, rallying late to get up by a head. Even more encouraging is her prior effort in a Grade 3 at Santa Anita, where she narrowly missed while racing at this same 1¼-mile distance.

The added ground appears to suit her perfectly. Her recent form is strong, and she has already proven she can handle both the class level and the distance. With another forward effort, Resolve has every chance to add a stakes victory to her resume.

#3 Innovative

Phil D’Amato’s Innovative has the talent to compete here but enters with questions after finishing eighth in each of her last two Grade 3 appearances. Earlier in her career, she showed versatility by winning at distances ranging from 6½ furlongs to 1⅛ miles. If she can recapture that earlier form, she becomes dangerous, but recent performances leave some uncertainty.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest 

Desert Stormer + Affirmed Stakes Analysis (6-11-26)

This Thursday, June 11th, marks the closing week of the Hollywood meet at Santa Anita Park, and I’m excited to break down both stakes races on the card. The past performance data I’m referencing comes from the popular Complete Digest.

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Desert Stormer Stakes – Race 2

Distance: 6 furlongs, Main Track
Purse: $100,000
Field: 5

Post	Horse	Morning Line	Notes
1	Antifona	8-1	Turf-to-dirt switch
2	Nooni	Favorite	Bob Baffert, long layoff
3	Revera	5-1	Returns to dirt
4	Magnificat	7-5	Early pressing speed, in form
5	Syntax	12-1	Turns back in distance

Key Speed and Performance Metrics:

• Fire Numbers (speed throughout the race): Antifona 90, Nooni 88, Magnificat 87
• CPR (Comprehensive Performance Rating): Antifona 134, Magnificat 130, Nooni 126
• Fast Fig: Magnificat 124, Antifona 123
• Final Time Rating: Magnificat 135, Antifona 134, Nooni 132

Analysis:

• Antifona switches from turf to dirt. She posted strong performances on turf, including a 134 final time rating in a March G3 race, but her ability to transfer form to dirt remains the question.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Beyond The Triple Crown Series Video (6-7-26)

In this horse racing video, I share upcoming plans for Golden Tempo, Commandment, Renegade, Chief Wallabee, Further Ado, and Englishman.

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.