How to bet the Santa Ana Stakes

An evenly matched field of nine fillies and mares will contest the $100,000 Santa Ana (G3) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The 1 1/4-mile grassy feature is a very good betting affair with contenders throughout the field.

Santa Ana Analysis

The pace will be established by #4 Lostintranzlation. #6 Dogtag, #7 Tiny Tina, and #9 Opus Won will make up the second flight to ensure honest early splits.

Santa Ana Contenders

#1 SUPER PATRIOT (6-1) -- Upset pick gets the important rail slot as one of two in the field for Baltas. Unusual Heat mare has shown steady improvement since removing blinkers last season, and the stretch-out in distance could be a good thing for the lass as well. Chestnut will save ground throughout under Cedillo.

#2 STREAK OF LUCK (12-1) -- Old Fashioned mare has failed to hit the board in eight straight attempts as a longshot for Chew. California-bred would be a surprise in her current form cycle beneath Franco.

#3 OUT OF BALANCE (15-1) -- Hofmans pupil broke through the first-level allowance ranks most recently on the course. Daughter of Kitten’s Joy is hard to back with confidence, but she will increase her residual value with a top-three run on Saturday.

#4 LOSTINTRANZLATION (15-1) -- Expected pacesetter has been beaten by a total of 45 in her last four assignments, all in the stakes ranks. Chestnut 6-year-old will set sail early and try to hold on for a share late under Brice Blanc.

#5 DOGTAG (4-1) -- Two-time stakes heroine was a smart allowance second in her first for Mandella off the break most recently. Talented War Front filly rates as an obvious contender if she handles the move to 10 furlongs on Saturday. Umberto Rispoli will have the 4-year-old tracking the tempo early on.

#6 MEAL TICKET (10-1) -- Daughter of Malibu Moon didn’t fire in her seasonal debut in the Buena Vista (G2), but improvement is expected from her second time out in 2020. Chew charge is graded stakes-placed on the surface, and she could add value to the vertical gimmicks with a top performance.

#7 TINY TINA (7-2) -- Win contender had a nice prep for this affair when closing late in a mile try in the Buena Vista. Phil d’Amato trainee has won or placed in 9 of 12 lifetime outings at Santa Anita, and I think that this trip will be ideal for her in her initial attempt at 1 1/4 miles. Flavien Prat riding adds to the appeal.

#8 SIBERIAN IRIS (7-2) -- Stakes vixen is one of two from the Mandella shedrow. Astra (G3) third possesses a big turn of foot, and the Irish-bred will appreciate a swift pace as much as any in the cast. She will be doing her best work inside the final furlong.

#9 OPUS WON (3-1) -- Eddington filly makes her first start since joining the Puype barn. Bay has won two straight and 4-of-6 in total, and she also owns the positional speed to overcome drawing widest in the field. Mario Gutierrez will be in the silks atop the morning-line choice.

Santa Ana Wagers

• $15 Win and Place: #1 Super Patriot ($30)
• $1 Trifecta: 1,7 with 1,5,7 with all ($28)