Santa Anita Park Pick 6 Carryover Analysis (3-15-26)

Santa Anita Park features a Pick 6 carryover of $32,111 for Sunday, March 15, and the sequence begins in Race 4. With a modest carryover and a sequence that appears fairly chalky on paper, the goal here is to structure a lean $16 ticket while still giving ourselves a realistic shot at sweeping all six races.

The handicapping insights below come directly from the data inside the Complete Digest, including key metrics like Fire Number, CPR, Fast Figs, and Final Time Ratings.

Let’s go race by race and break down the sequence.

Race 4 – Claiming $6,250 (1 Mile)

Short field makes for a potential single.

After scratches, this race is reduced to just three runners, which immediately simplifies the opening leg of the Pick 6.

The standout here is Contrary Chieftain, who owns the best Final Time Rating (129) among the remaining horses.

Key factors:

• Won convincingly at one mile at Santa Anita on January 18
• Earned a 129 Final Time Rating in that victory
• Dropped in class after a failed try against $16,000 claimers
• Speed-favoring distance profile

Neither Mother’s Prayer nor Mischief’s Causeway have recent winning form to match that figure.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Kentucky Derby 2026 Future Wager Pool 5 Analysis (March 13-15)

In this horse racing video, I take a look at Kentucky Derby 2026 Future Wager Pool 5. This pool opens on Friday, March 13 and closes at 6:00 PM ET on Sunday, March 15.   

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

Virginia Derby 2026 Analysis at Colonial Downs (3-14-26)

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues with the $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on Saturday, March 14. This Kentucky Derby points race brings together a field of three-year-olds traveling one mile and one-eighth around one turn on the main track.

In this breakdown, I’ll first walk through the field, then dive into the Today’s Racing Digest data. The past performances referenced in this analysis come from race sheets available at Today’s Racing Digest.

Virginia Derby Overview

Race	Virginia Derby
Purse	$500,000
Track	Colonial Downs
Distance	1 1/8 Miles (One Turn)
Division	3-Year-Olds
Post Time	5:10 PM ET

This unique one-turn mile and an eighth configuration can produce tactical races where early positioning matters, but horses with stamina can still make a sustained run down the long Colonial Downs stretch.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Future Wager (March 13-15)

In this horse racing video, I take a look at Kentucky Oaks 2026 Future Wager Pool. This pool opens on Friday, March 13 and closes at 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, March 15.   

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

Virgina Oaks 2026 Video Analysis (3-14-26)

Virginia Oaks video analysis at Colonial Downs (3-14-26). This is a Kentucky Oaks 2026 points race. Road to Kentucky Oaks 2026 video record (24 12-3-5).

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

Santa Anita Park Handicapping Report (March 6-8)

Santa Anita Recap for Friday (3-6-26)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (7f, 6f). On the turf course, a 2-1 stalker won the opener at 6.5f, a stalking favorite scored at 6.5f, a 3-1 midpack stalker graduated at one mile, a 2-1 stalker won at 9f, and a 12-1 stalker upset the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).

Antonio Fresu guided home two turf winners.

The $2 Pick 6 carryover pool was $314,292 and tickets with six winners paid $35,585.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $351.00.

March 6 Claims: Race 1 – Tapelo ($30k, Steve Knapp). Race 7 – Twirling Point ($50k, Blaine D. Wright). Race 8 – Pass the Baton ($16k, Librado Barocio).

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (3-6-26)
SA 1 THE OLD NINE ($6.20)
SA 2 Jensco/Crazy Cami Exacta ($33.80)
Double (races 1-2, $37.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $196.60)
SA 4 TOMMY NORRIS ($5.80)
Double (races 3-4, $20.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $165.00)
Double (races 4-5, $24.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $100.00)
SA 6 GALLOPING GHOST ($3.80)
Double (races 5-6, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $68.40)
SA 7 Twirling Point/City Exile ($15.80)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.

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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-7-26)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, a 3-1 stalker graduated in the 6f opener, a 6-1 stalker tallied at 6f, a 7-1 front runner came again to win at one mile, an even money stalker graduated at 6f, 31-1 stalker Final Boss upset the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G2) at one mile, and a 22-1 front runner captured the flat mile finale. 

Juan Hernandez booted home four winners (3 graded stakes winners). Bob Baffert saddled three winners on the main track including two graded route winners and Hernandez guided home both of Baffert’s stakes winners. Mark Glatt saddled two winners. Michael McCarthy saddled two winners on turf.

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-7-26

Grade 1 Beholder Mile (8f): Splendora ($2.20) was 10 cents on the dollar and she dominated this heat. She made the lead and widened throughout to win by 5 3/4 lengths. Bless the Broken chased from second and was 7 lengths clear of late running show finisher Om N Joy. Simply Joking and Nafisa also ran. Dazzling Move scratched. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 23.49, 46.77, 1:10.31, 1:22.99, 1:35.16.

Read more at The Runaway Horse

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Video Update (3-9-26)

In this Kentucky Oaks 2026 video, I share my updated Fabulous 5 Oaks contenders (3-9-26).

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