Pick 3 of the Week: Santa Anita Saturday, April 4

The $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) is the centerpiece of a major day of racing at Santa Anita on Saturday, and I will peg the three-race sequence featuring California-bred runners before the feature as my Pick 3 of the Week.

Race 7 Wager

• $1 Pick 3: 1,3,4,5,6 with 5,7 with 1,11,12 ($30)

Race 7 – Maiden Special Weight

A cast of 10 sophomores will run 6 1/2 panels on the sod to commence the play. The grassy dash lacks a standout, and I’ll spread in the first portion of the wager. #1 Tight Daily (10-1) ran evenly with an inside trip at six furlongs on the local lawn on debut and could surely improve for Peter Eurton, who has a positive ROI second-time out. 

#3 Booked Clubhouse (4-1) has rallied to a pair of runner-up finishes this season with the blinkers off and will be the one to hold off in the lane for Sean McCarthy. First timer #4 Gaines (8-1) is presumably named for conditioner Carla Gaines, and I’m intrigued enough to use the Mo Forza colt. Phil D’Amato’s #5 Eugene Sledge (3-1) and Brian Koriner’s #6 Oracle of Paradise (5-2) are both kin to winners on the turf and make the ticket, as well. 

Race 8 – Evening Jewel S. 

Sophomore fillies will jaunt 6 1/2 furlongs on the main oval in the middle leg. #7 Mohaven (1-1) gets back on the dirt following a turf experiment last time in her 2026 debut and rates a big chance with her best run. The $200,000 Yaupon filly captured the Golden State Juvenile Fillies S. by 4 1/4 lengths in her juvenile finale and will be hard to deny with something resembling that outing for Sadler. 

Smart maiden winner #5 Another Zero (3-1) will be added for insurance in case the top choice fails to fire. The Antonio Garcia pupil has run two good ones to begin her career and retains the services of Juan Hernandez. 

Race 9 – Optional Claiming

The closing piece will be contested at one mile on the green and attracted a full field of 12. #1 Stylishyacclaimed (6-1) has had trouble staying on the track, but the six-year-old son of Acclamation looked good in his first run in more than 17 months when winning an allowance dash on the course on Feb. 14. I expect him to improve second-time back while stretching out in distance beneath Jaramillo. 

Trainer Tim Yakteen is good at bringing horses ready to run off the shelf, and he will saddle the multiple stakes placed #11 Sabertooth (6-1) in this spot. The Grazen colt returns to the state-bred ranks off the layoff and will have Florent Geroux in the saddle. #12 Call Me Sir (7-2) was a clear second when facing open foes on the surface last time and will relish the move back in with this type on Saturday. The Mark Glatt pupil will have Kimura taking the reins.