Betting With, and Against, Pony Express in the San Pasqual Stakes

The John Sadler-trained #5 Pony Express (9-5) has been installed as the morning-line choice for the $200,000 San Pasqual (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Gun Runner chestnut has yet to pick up a black-type win at this stage of his development, but the lightly raced five-year-old has produced a few huge efforts on the local surface and has been working in swift fashion in advance of his 2026 debut. 

Pony Express – With

• $20 exacta 5 with 1,6 ($40)

Pony Express – Against

• $12 exacta box 1-6 ($24)
• $1 trifecta 1,6 with 1,5,6 with all ($16)

Pony Express raced twice in 2025, with both contests coming at one mile on this oval. The Kentucky-bred dominated allowance foes in his four-year-old debut, prior to checking in a close second in the Tokyo City S. at The Great Race Place in October. He is very quick from the gate and figures to be forcing the action from the break with Hector Berrios in the silks. 

If the removal of blinkers helps #6 Westwood (8-1) relax early, then I expect the John Shirreffs pupil to be a major threat in the latter stages of the tilt in a field full of pace. The four-year-old son of Authentic has hit the board in four of five lifetime runs at this venue, led by a third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in the spring. The bay gelding was a solid third in the Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar most recently behind a pair of very talented foes, and any improvement off of that showing makes him a viable option with Kimura on board. He could sit a dream voyage behind a sharp and contested early tempo. 

#1 Midnight Mammoth (9-2) was a close runner-up in the Gold Cup (G2) on the surface in May behind Skippylongstocking, and I loved his latest performance when he rallied to get up late in a swiftly run seven-furlong contest. The seven-year-old son of Midnight Lute is proven at longer trips than he will endure on Saturday, and the rail post will allow him to save ground in the tilt, as well. Regular pilot Armando Ayuso will take the reins aboard the prime win candidate.