Sunshine Turf Stakes – Race 9 at Gulfstream Park – Post Time 4:20 PM Eastern

Top Win Contenders: Tank, Seminole Chief, Echo Lane

Another contender is: Classic of Course.

Tank finished third in the Tropical Derby Stakes last December 13 after being away for over three months, and it was still a strong effort, even with the third-place finish. From March through June, Tank won three straight turf stakes, including two at Gulfstream Park. After his third consecutive win, Tank faced a grade one race (finishing fourth) and a grade two race (finishing sixth), then finished eighth before taking a break. In the Tropical Derby, Tank broke from the outside post (as he does today), stalked early in second, and took the lead with a quarter mile to go before being outfinished by the top two horses. He should be much faster after his second layoff, and he is a contender.

Seminole Chief is another horse with a stakes win. That victory came last March in the Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Seminole Chief was raised to Grade one (finishing ninth) and Grade two races (finishing seventh), then he also took a break. He returned on December 26, where he closed from last to seventh and then rallied to third. He should also improve after his second layoff and could be a horse with a strong shot.

Echo Lane is coming off a three-month layoff. He won twice and finished second by a neck in his last four races over the past year and a half. He has also won six of eight races at this distance. Although he hasn’t won a stakes race, his best races are good enough to be competitive.

One more to consider in the group of four is Classic of Course. He won four races out of 17 starts but has only run on turf three times, with one win. That win was in a race similar to this one, the Cutler Bay Stakes last March. He is dropping in class from the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes on December 20, where he faced multiple stakes winner Skippylongstocking. He might rebound.

Handicapper Picks

Win bet: Tank at odds of 3 to 1 or higher.

Seminole Chief, Echo Lane at odds of 7 to 2 or higher.

If one of the top three contenders is scratched, then Classic of Course is considered at fair odds of 9 to 2 or higher.

Exacta: Box Tank, Seminole Chief, Echo Lane.

If one of the top three contenders is scratched, then move Classic of Course into the exacta.

California Chrome Cal Cup Derby Stakes – Race 8 at Santa Anita – Post Time 7 PM Eastern

Top Win Contenders: My Boy Stan, Smoove Saturday, Ocean Bear

Another contender is: John Metcalfe

My Boy Stan is the only horse here that has run in “open” races and not only California-breds. He is a California-bred who has run twice in Florida, winning his debut on November 14 by five lengths and missing his second start on December 6 by half a length, finishing third. He will get the rail and add blinkers for this race. His sire, Stanford, won three individual stakes routes from seven starts. My Boy Stan will likely be underrated by bettors, so I think he might be at decent odds.

Smoove Saturday is undefeated in two races, both on routes. He earned the fastest Equibase Speed Figure (90) of the field. His win on December 14 in the King Glorious Stakes shows he is certainly capable of winning again.

Ocean Bear also won a stakes race, the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile Stakes, on October 31. He earned an 85 figure, the same as My Boy Stan, but below the 90 for Smoovin Saturday. However, since both other contenders won last month, Ocean Bear might just be a little less fit.

John Metcalfe finished second to Smoovin Saturday in the King Glorious, and Sammy Davis finished second to Ocean Bear in the Golden State Juvenile. Both horses have a chance to place second or third.

Handicapper Picks

Win bet: My Boy Stan, Smoovin Saturday at odds of 5 to 2 or higher.

Ocean Bear and John Metcalfe are at odds of 4 to 1 or higher.

Exacta: My Boy Stan, Smoove Saturday over My Boy Stan, Smoove Saturday, Ocean Bear, and John Metcalfe

Also – My Boy Stan, Smoove Saturday, Ocean Bear, and John Metcalfe over My Boy Stan, Smoove Saturday

Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes – Race 9 at Santa Anita – Post Time 7:30 PM Eastern

Top Win Contenders: Take Another Card, Grand Slam Smile

Another contender is: Sneaker

Take Another Card started from 11th (of 12) on December 28 and was still 10th at a quarter mile, then seventh at a sixteenth, and finally exploded to finish beaten by just a head of the second-place finisher and another head of the winner. In that race, she achieved a career-high 102 Equibase Speed Figure. She won the California Cup Stakes, a turf route similar to this race, last January 2025 in her second start, and this will be her third race, and she is ready to win today.

Grand Slam Smile has nine wins in 16 races, with a total of 15 top-two finishes. She finished second in five turf races, including the Solana Beach Stakes on August 17, a turf route. She wrapped up her 2025 season by winning the Betty Grable Stakes on November 9. She also earned a 102 figure when beaten by a head in the California Distaff Handicap in October 2024. Returning from a two-and-a-half-month break, she has proved she can win after a layoff. Therefore, she remains another top contender.

Sneaker won the California Distaff Handicap in October 2025 when she beat Grand Slam Smile by a head, but she was defeated by Grand Slam Smile in the Solana Beach Stakes after returning from a layoff.

Handicapper Picks

Win bets: Take Another Card, Grand Slam Smile at odds of 9 to 5 or higher.

Sneaker as odds of 3 to 1 or higher.

Exactas: Box Take Another Card, Grand Slam Smile.

Also: Box Take Another Card, Grand Slam Smile, and Sneaker