Trainer Tim Yakteen sends out an army of 3-year-olds when the starting gate opens in the 2023 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. The German-born Yakteen saddles five of the 10 runners in the San Felipe Stakes 2023 field. Four of those runners were previously trained by Bob Baffert, who remains banned by Churchill Downs and cannot enter any horses in the Kentucky Derby. The top three horses in the San Felipe Stakes odds are all trained by Yakteen. National Treasure is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Hejazi is second in the odds at 7-2, while Practical Move (4-1) rounds out the top three on the boards board.
The 2023 San Felipe Stakes Post time is 5:27 p.m. ET. With 10 lightly raced 3-year-olds set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what top racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2023 San Felipe Stakes picks.
Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.
Since joining SportsLine in November 2021, her picks have cashed in the 2021 and '22 Breeders' Cup Classics, Kentucky Oaks, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, among other races. And last week she crushed the Saudi Cup, riding a 15-1 winner for an $840 score.
For Saturday, Yu has handicapped the 2023 San Felipe Stakes field, given her horse-by-horse analysis, made her picks and constructed her wagers. Head to SportsLine to see them.
Top 2023 San Felipe Stakes predictions
One surprise: Yu is not making National Treasure her top pick even though he is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. One of the four horses in the race who were previously trained by Baffert, National Treasure has one win, one second and two thirds in four career starts. He is coming off a third place finish in the Sham Stakes on Jan. 8.
In that race, National Treasure did not have any excuses in failing to run down 16-1 gate-to-wire winner Reincarnate, which Yu doesn't like. "He is a little light on wins, so he's no slam dunk favorite," Yu told SportsLine. She is using National Treasure only sparingly in her wagers. See which horses to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2023 San Felipe Stakes picks
Instead, Yu's top choice is a double-digit longshot who "looked so smooth" in his last start. She also is high on another runner who "should certainly find the distance to his liking" on Saturday. She is including these horses in her 2023 San Felipe Stakes bets, and so should you. She's sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.
So what double-digit longshot who "looked so smooth" in his last start wins the San Felipe? And what horse who should like the distance of Saturday's race is a must-back? What does Yu think of every horse in the race? And how has she constructed her wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the San Felipe Stakes, and find out.
2023 San Felipe Stakes odds
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chase the Chaos | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | National Treasure | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Practical Move | 4-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Bluegrass Go Go | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Genius Jimmy | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Crypto Ride | Scratched | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Hejazi | 7-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Geaux Rocket Ride | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 9 | Fort Bragg | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 10 | Skinner | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 11 | Mr Fisk | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
