How to bet the 2026 Cinema Stakes

A compact field of five will vie in Sunday’s $100,000 Cinema S. at Santa Anita. Trainer Phil D’Amato has a pair of major players for the one-mile turf test, and I like #1 Iriseach in the small group. The Irish-bred bay broke his maiden in October at Del Mar in his second run in the states and concluded his two-year-old season with a close second in a subsequent Grade 3 tilt at the same venue. 

Cinema Wagers

• $20 exacta 1 with 3 ($20)
• $10 exacta 1 with 4 ($10) 

The colt ran his best race of 2026 two back when falling just a neck short in the Pasadena S., and I love that he stretches back out following a turf dash here in his latest performance. Iriseach has a great slot on the fence to save ground in the early going and make one run late, and I expect him to get it done inside the final furlong with good grassy pilot Antonio Fresu in the controls. 

D’Amato’s #3 Later Than Planned is a two-time stakes winner on the turf who will try to go long once again, and the son of Cotai Glory is surely one to consider in the event. The versatile sort was close to the pace in a turf dash last time prior to inching clear in the lane, but he does his best work from off the tempo, in general. Irish-bred bay is better as a closing turf sprinter, in my opinion, but he has as much ability as any horse in the field and wouldn't be a big surprise with Hector Berrios in the silks. 

The Jeff Mullins-trained #4 Charlie’s Curlin is two-for-two since having the blinkers removed, and I expect him to be sent to the front from the start of this tilt. The dark bay son of Curlin has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in four races in succession in preparation for this one, and the ascending colt seems poised to make an impact in his stakes debut for a barn that continues to do a lot of good things at the current meeting. The $225,000 auction purchase comes in fresh and will force the action throughout with Juan Hernandez on board.