Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks (Mar 1)

Star-studded racing is set for Santa Anita on Saturday, March 1, 2025, as two Grade 1 contests headline the card. The feature is the G1 Santa Anita Handicap, while other competitive races include the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile and G2 San Felipe Stakes. Find our picks for the stakes races here.

Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks

G1 Santa Anita Handicap (R10- 7:47 PM ET)

The G1 Santa Anita Handicap is one of the standout races in the early part of the year in California, with a legendary list of previous winners that include Seabiscuit, Tiznow, and Spectacular Bid.

This year’s renewal doesn’t boast the same star-studded quality, but it remains a very interesting race nevertheless. Bob Baffert saddles both New King and Mirahmadi, but both have something to find on official ratings.

I’m pretty sweet on the chances of Locked for the Todd Pletcher team. The four-year-old has won twice in graded company, which included a win in the G2 Cigar Mile last December. He also has previous experience at Santa Anita after finishing a fine third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2023.

His run behind White Abarrio in the G1 Pegasus World Cup is significantly the best piece of form in this race, and if at his best, he should be incredibly hard to beat.

G2 San Felipe Stakes (R8- 6:43 PM ET)

Despite being a Grade Two, the most informative race on the Santa Anita card this weekend comes in the form of the San Felipe Stakes. This race has been a notable prep for the Kentucky Derby, with winners of the race including California Chrome, Sunday Silence, and Affirmed.

All eyes will be on current Derby favorite Barnes for the Bob Baffert team. The trainer has won the San Felipe a record nine times, and Barnes is bred to be a champion (Into Mischief-All American Dream).

He hasn’t put a foot wrong on track to this point, stepping up to seven furlongs impressively last time out when beating Romanesque in the G2 San Vincente to record a speed figure of 126.

A dominant win this weekend would see him shorten up for the Derby, and his chances are only enhanced due to market rival Journalism carrying a penalty. Still, the Michael McCarthy-trained winner of the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity looks to be the leading chance to follow Barnes home.

Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks – Mar 1