Sunland Derby Day pick five play for Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026
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RACE 5: All of these 3-year-old fillies are trying two turns for the first time, and DAY AT A TIME is bred to run on. She crushed maidens with the addition of Lasix in her local debut a month ago and goes without the diuretic this time. Favored CAPROCK CUTIE won a restricted stakes two back at Zia and is coming off a flat fourth here at even money. She’s the first foal from a versatile miler. Off a close second in her stakes debut, I AM PAULA REVERE could lead the way after breaking from the rail. (3)
RACE 6: All of these male sophomores are experimenting around two turns, headed by favored SPEED MERCHANT. The three-time stakes winner has tactical speed and is a standout from a Beyer Speed Figure perspective. CASH WATERFALL filled out the exacta behind Speed Merchant in each of his last two outings. His dam was a stakes-winning router at Sunland, and he could fall into a lovely stalking trip if Vanishing Money goes with Speed Merchant early. (2)
RACE 7: Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante winner BOTTLE OF ROUGE stands out in the Oaks, which trainer Bob Baffert has won a record eight times. For the most part, she has been outworking her company at Santa Anita in advance of her first start since a subpar showing in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies where she ran against a speed bias. (1)
RACE 8: This $100,000 race seems wide open, with several shippers in the lineup who aren’t all that imposing. WILD BOUT HILLARY, a need-the-lead type based at Fair Grounds, is coming off a third in a good key race at Delta Downs and could take some catching if the track is favoring speed. (7)
RACE 9: SHARONS BEACH has worked well at Santa Anita since a neck loss against maidens going 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 23, for which he got a big 89 Beyer – victorious Liam Smith subsequently aired in a starter/optional claimer with a 90 Beyer. The son of hot young sire Omaha Beach is a full brother to stakes-winning router Mister Omaha. EXPRESS KID was sold for $800,000 at a one-horse Fasig-Tipton digital flash sale after taking the Dec. 20 Springboard Mile decisively with an 85 Beyer. He has been working bullets over this track. (2)
THE PLAY: 1, 5, 9 / 3, 9 / 4 / ALL / 1, 2 = $42 ticket
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