It’s time for opening weekend at Santa Anita Park! The SoCal stalwart officially opens on Friday, with Saturday’s program boasting a number of key races on the road to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

With the 10-race program comes plenty of opportunities to take swings. Here, we’ll take a look at a few horses expected to go off at decent prices who could outrun their odds. Let’s dive in!

Race #4, Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes: #4 Final Boss (4-1 morning-line odds)

Final Boss (BENOIT photo)

I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m just not crazy about #3 Johannes (even-money). It’s possible he needed his 2025 debut in the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave Stakes, but he showed nothing that day after shipping across the country. He’s back on his home turf here in a race he won last year, but are we sure he’s the same horse?

In the event he’s past his peak, I’m going elsewhere, and I like the horse directly to his outside quite a bit. Final Boss cuts back after going too far in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association last month. He ran very well two starts back at a mile, when he showed a new dimension. He had been a “need-the-lead” type, but he rated behind a runaway leader and edged clear in the lane. This is the distance he wants, and I think he’ll sit an ideal trip just behind #6 Cabo Spirit (9-2 morning-line odds).

Such a journey would put him in prime position turning for home, and I just think Johannes may not be the same runner he was a year ago. With that in mind, give me the appealing price on Final Boss to spring the upset.

Race #6, Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship: #5 Mondego (9-2 morning-line odds)

Mondego (Eclipse Sportswire)

I’m not exactly proud of this, because I think #7 Gold Phoenix (3-2 morning line) is one of the coolest horses in training. He’s been running well in big races for a long time and won the Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association Aug. 30, but I just don’t think he’s quite the same horse away from where the turf meets the surf.

Mondego chased him last time out, and he was compromised by the race shape. They went very slow up front that day. While he had some gate speed earlier in his career, he’s turned into a deep closer since going to Michael McCarthy’s barn. Gold Phoenix, meanwhile, sat an ideal trip fairly close to the pace on his favorite turf course and capitalized.

Several horses to Mondego’s inside figure to go early, and while I don’t think the fractions will be sizzling, I don’t think we’ll see 1:16.51 for six furlongs again. With that in mind, I think Mondego and Kazushi Kimura get the setup they need, unlike last time. Given the probable price, this is the one coming out of the Del Mar Handicap that I want.

Race #10, Grade 3 John C. Harris Stakes: #6 Casalu (5-1 morning-line odds)

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I look at this field in the Saturday finale and I see several horses that just may not be sprinters. That’s not the case with Casalu, who ran the best race of her career three back going down this hillside turf course. She won the Sweet Life Stakes that day before going to the sidelines, and she came back with a solid second in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap going two turns. Her effort in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Presented by Keeneland Sales was a dud, but I simply don’t think she wanted to go that far.

I think Casalu is a true turf sprinter, and she gets the chance to do that here. This isn’t a bad group class-wise, but unlike some others, it feels like she’s doing what she wants to do while in form for the top barn on the circuit. I’ll be singling her on most of my multi-race exotic tickets, and I think 5-1 represents significant value.