Pick 4 of the Week: Santa Anita Saturday, May 24, 2025

A handful of black-type races for California-bred runners will be hosted by Santa Anita on Saturday, and three of the five are part of the Pick 4 of the Week. 

Race 7 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: all with 4 with 1,6,7 with 2,3,5,6,7 ($45)

Race 7 – Melair S. 

The 1 1/16-mile affair on the dirt for three-year-old fillies will have six going postward in a tricky opening leg with the expected scratch of Honeymoon (G3) runner-up #7 Miso Phansy. Each contender has distance and/or surface questions to answer to kick off the sequence, and I don’t have much of a feel as to how this race will unfold. Using the ‘all’ button to get things started appears to be the most logical decision for me. 

Race 8 – Crystal Water S. 

A one-mile test for the boys on the lawn attracted a cast of seven for leg two. I didn’t love the comeback effort from two-time defending champ #4 Kings River Knight when unplaced in a turf dash on the surface most recently, but the seven-year-old has too much class to go against on this occasion. The speedy son of Acclamation is a formidable wire-to-wire threat with Juan Hernandez in the silks. 

Race 9 – Optional Claiming

I feel good about using three runners in the third leg, an optional claiming tilt for fillies and mares going six panels on the main surface. #1 Sharp Ride won her last two dirt races by open lengths on the course and is four-for-six lifetime at Santa Anita. Dean Pedersen's charge will break from the rail with Tiago Pereira in the silks. 

#6 Thirsty Trickster, also from the Pedersen shedrow, has improved her Brisnet Speed number in every lifetime run to date and will be of good value in the heat. The Jeff Mullins-trained #7 Lady Gregory has fine current form and is the potential one to beat with Hector Berrios in the stirrups. 

Race 10 – Snow Chief S. 

The finale features an octet of sophomores going nine furlongs on the green. I can’t find a single in the closing event and will go fairly deep to cap the wager. #2 Style Cat, #3 Drop Um, #5 Bro Bro, #6 Cali Cat, and #7 Got Soul, will make the ticket. 

Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. to fight for the finish, including probable contender Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?

Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!