| Post | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Force Red | 8/1 | Leonard Powell | Armando Ayuso |
| 2 | Bran | 9/2 | John Sadler | Umberto Rispoli |
| 3 | Goliat | 7/2 | Richard Mandella | Mike Smith |
| 4 | Daniel's Magic | 30/1 | Eoin Harty | Kyle Frey |
| 5 | Stay Hot | 6/1 | Peter Eurton | Juan Hernandez |
| 6 | Lovesick Blues | 10/1 | Librado Barocio | Geovanni Franco |
| 7 | Motorious | 6/5 | Philip D'Amato | Antonio Fresu |
| 8 | Watsonville | 30/1 | Mark Glatt | Kazushi Kimura |
The downhill turf course at Santa Anita will take center stage this Saturday, June 14, as a competitive group of older sprinters line up for the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes. With a field of eight going about 6½ furlongs, the 2025 edition offers fans of horse betting a compelling mix of proven winners, up-and-coming threats, and live longshots.
All eyes are on Motorious, the heavy morning-line favorite. Trained by Philip D'Amato and ridden by Antonio Fresu, Motorious has already proven his affinity for Santa Anita's unique downhill configuration. His tactical speed, turn-of-foot, and top-class connections make him a deserving favorite in this spot. A clean trip puts him in the winner's circle.
Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella and ridden by the legendary Mike Smith, has been improving steadily. He may not have Motorious' resume, but he brings strong late kick and could be peaking at the right time.
Trained by John Sadler, is another proven turf sprinter. With Umberto Rispoli aboard, he figures to get a ground-saving trip and could be in prime striking position turning for home.
Offers great value for trainer Peter Eurton and jockey Juan Hernandez. His ability to sit just off the pace and finish strongly could make him dangerous in the final furlong.
He has quietly built a reputation as a hard-trying competitor. Trained by Librado Barocio and ridden by Geovanni Franco, he’s hit the board in key allowance and minor stakes races.
Could also outrun his odds if he breaks clean and secures early position. His post and draw suit his front-running style.
At the far end of the odds board, Daniel's Magic (30/1) and Watsonville (30/1) look up against it on paper, but they bring experience and connections who know how to spring an upset. Don’t ignore them in deeper exotics.
Win Bet:
Goliat (7/2)
Trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Mike Smith, Goliat has the perfect mid-pack post, comes in fresh, nice Daytona Stakes odds and is trending upward. Offers much better value than Motorious with similar tactical ability.
Exacta Box:
Goliat – Bran – Motorious
This covers the favorite and two best value alternatives. Bran has strong experience over this course and could be sneaky-good under Rispoli.
Value Longshot to Hit the Board:
Stay Hot (6/1)
Has tactical speed, improving figures, and should get first run on the closers.
With post time scheduled for Saturday evening at 5:08 p.m. ET, the 2025 Daytona Stakes looks like a showcase for turf sprinters at their sharpest. While Motorious may stand tall above the field on paper, he is the favorite as Daytona Stakes odds reflect, contenders like Goliat, Bran, and Stay Hot bring enough talent to keep him honest. For bettors, this race provides both value plays and multi-race wagering opportunities with clear pace and class angles.
Watch closely as Santa Anita’s famous hillside turf adds another layer of unpredictability to this high-stakes sprint.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
