Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for the week of Jan. 8-11, 2026

SUNTORY TIME
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Jan. 8, 1st
Finish: 3rd by 3/4
Beyer: 57
Four-year-old maiden comebacker broke slowly in turf route, trailed while leaders set slow pace, final quarter in sharp 23.69, finished well. Promising return by older filly.

FEISTY RED HEAD
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Jan. 8, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 62
Three-year-old filly by Curlin lacked speed in debut, raced near back, split rivals on turn, angled out, finished well. Solid debut by filly who wants more than six furlongs.

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GRATEFULLY
Trainer: Robert Falcone, Jr.
Last race: Jan. 8, 5th
Finish: 1st by 3 3/4
Beyer: 91
Unbeaten in New York, filly ran super in second-level allowance turf sprint. Tucked third, angled out, powered home, fits in restricted Wishing Well Stakes on Feb. 21.

RED HOT
Trainer: Luis Mendez
Last race: Jan., 8, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 4 1/4
Beyer: 56
Debut 3-year-old in Cal-bred maiden sprint, this gelding raced greenly throughout. Broke well, dropped back, re-rallied, green. Work in progress, but does have ability.

CHEROKEE NATION
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Jan. 9, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 77
Maiden 3-year-old off poorly in dirt route, trailed slow pace, rallied wide into lane, finished well. Seven-figure yearling by Not This Time still immature, but has ability.

MISS KITTY BOOM
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Jan. 10, 2nd
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 72
A filly by Maclean’s Music, produced by a stakes winner, ’Boom sped to lead, dueled, tired. Good career debut by filly whose trainer typically races maidens into condition.

ROMANTIC RIDE
Trainer: Vladimir Cerin
Last race: Jan. 10, 4th
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 68
Claimed for $30k from runner-up debut, Cal-bred 3-year-old broke in and bumped rival at start of maiden turf sprint, fast finish, well clear of third. Next time vs. similar.

ALL IN THE GAME
Trainer: Craig Lewis
Last race: Jan. 11, 1st
Finish: 7th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 53
Cal-bred maiden filly had brutal trip in main-oval turf sprint. Hopped and lost action dirt crossing, re-rallied turn, got shut off on rail in lane, ran much better than it looks.

GENIUS JIMMY
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Jan. 11, 6th
Finish: 4th by 1 1/4
Beyer: 85
Veteran had no chance with bad trip in second-level allowance turf route. Rated in midfield, inched closer far turn, blocked in traffic most of stretch. Follow vs. similar.

BOLT D’VINE
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Jan. 11, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 77
Off more than a year, entry-level allowance mare pressed sizzling pace in dirt sprint, hung tough to deep stretch, tired. Creditable comeback, she will be tighter next out.

NAY V BELLE
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Jan. 11, 8th
Finish: 5th by 3
Beyer: 86
Late-runner compromised by slow pace in hillside Grade 3. Next to last, finished well, leaders kept running. ’Belle would fit in restricted Wishing Well Stakes on Feb. 21.

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