Santa Anita stakes spot plays for Sept. 26

Picks and plays for the stakes-laden Saturday card at Santa Anita, which includes five “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for the Nov. 6-7 Breeders’ Cup.

Race 7: Rodeo Drive (G1, 5:41 p.m. ET)

#6 Lady Prancealot (2-1) won the American Oaks (G1) over this course and 1 1/4-mile distance in December, but the late-running 4-year-old is winless in four starts this year and seems tough to trust in a paceless renewal of the Rodeo Drive.

In contrast, #2 Maxim Rate (4-1) has some tactical speed and is a head away from being undefeated in three starts this season. The improving Simon Callaghan trainee showed tenacity to rally from a pace-tracking position and win the 1 3/8-mile CTT and TOC S. at Del Mar last month, so the extended distance of the Rodeo Drive shouldn't be an issue.

$20 to win on #2 Maxim Rate

Race 9: John Henry Turf Championship (G2, 7:43 p.m. ET)

#3 United (6-5) has three wins from four starts this year, with his lone defeat by a head in the Aug. 22 Del Mar H. (G2). A versatile son of Giant’s Causeway, United is a two-time graded stakes winner over the course and 1 1/4-mile distance of the John Henry. He nabbed the San Marcos (G2) and Charles Whittingham (G2) earlier this year.

In a race with little speed on paper, United figures to enjoy a perfect trip setting or stalking the pace under jockey Flavien Prat.

Let’s bet him in the exacta, over #2 Originaire (7-2) and #1 Proud Pedro (8-1), who finished third and fourth in the Del Mar H.

$15 exacta: 3 with 1,2 ($30)

Race 10: Awesome Again (G1, 8:14 p.m. ET)

The Bob Baffert-trained duo of #5 Maximum Security (3-5) and #2 Improbable (8-5) tower over this field on paper.

Between them, they’ve won seven Grade 1 races and have a bevy of triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings.

Improbable has technically run faster this year and enters off easy victories in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and Whitney (G1), but the son of City Zip is prone to acting up at the gate and doesn’t fare well racing behind or between runners.

Pacific Classic (G1) winner Maximum Security, on the other hand, has crossed the wire first in 11 of his 12 starts and has frequently snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. This is a horse who flat out wants to win.

We’ll play Maximum Security over Improbable in a trifecta, using #4 Midcourt for third place.

$20 trifecta: 5 with 2 with 4

Good luck!