HORSE RACING

Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Friday 5/29/20

With most of the sports world on pause, it's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.

Starting at 3:30 p.m. EST, we have nine races at Santa Anita. Using our projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.

As always, keep an eye out for scratches and changes.

Busy Paynter, Race 2

FD Racing Odds: 8/5

Busy Paynter has won three of her last four races at Santa Anita Park, per Timeform, and she's our pick to win from her starting spot in Lane 1.

This 5.5-furlong race is a step down in distance for Busy Paynter, who has gone at least six furlongs in each of her last five events. DailyHorsePicks.com gives Busy Paynter a race-best 21% chance to win along with 61% odds of coming in the top three.

The filly will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who has won 25% of his races -- top three 59% of the time -- here since late December, per Equibase.

Long shot Perfect Promise (12/1) is worth mentioning. Despite carrying the worst odds in this six-horse field, she's got the best pace and speed ratings at DHP, who give her a solid 15% chance to win. Not bad for a filly that's 12/1.

K P Whirlwind, Race 4

FD Racing Odds: 5/2

The numbers at DHP really like K P Whirlwind (5/2) from the rail in Race 4. The filly's recent form is all over the place, but she does have a win across her past five -- though it's sandwiched between a 4th, 10th, 8th and 5th.

DHP has K P Whirlwind with the best speed rating as well as the second-best pace rating in this field. They give her a 26% chance to win, tops in what looks like a fairly balanced race.

If you are OK with some risk, Truth Prevails (20/1), owner of the worst odds in the field, tops the race in DHP's pace rating. There are worse long shots out there.

Mean Sophia, Race 7

FD Racing Odds: 12/1

Mean Sophia (12/1) checks some boxes despite being the horse with the worst odds in Race 7's five-horse field.

For starters, she grades out very well on DHP, checking in tops in both pace and speed rating. Her recent form includes a win and two fourths over her last three.

One of the big things she has going for her is that Abel Cedillo will be at the controls. Cedillo is a Santa Anita veteran who has had a lot of success, placing in the top three 44% of the time across 322 starts since late December, according to Equibase

Betting on Mean Sophia to win might be a bit much -- our models like Lighthouse at 2/1 -- but she can place or show at friendly odds.