HORSE RACING

Santa Anita Park Horse Racing Picks for Friday 10/16/20

There are eight races on the Friday card at Santa Anita. Which horses should you bet on at FanDuel Racing?

It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.

Starting at 4:00 p.m. EST, we have eight races at Santa Anita Park. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and check the weather and track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions).

Little Miss Ellie, Race 2

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/5

Race 2 is a Maiden Claiming race for state-bred fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs. Little Miss Ellie (4/5) is the prohibitive favorite in the short field of five runners with leading jockey Flavien Prat riding. She’s had trouble in all three starts this summer but still finished second each time while also losing ground and racing wide in her first two starts.

Guaranteed Tip Sheet and its Horse Racing Radar likes Little Miss Ellie, while numberFire’s algorithm gives Rickie Nine Toe’s (5/2) a chance for the upset. Rickie Nine Toe’s returns to the maiden-claiming ranks after finishing in-the-money in three previous tries at this level. She gets a weight break with the seven-pound apprentice jockey.

Secret Touch, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1

Race 6 is a Claiming Race at 1 1/16 miles with six runners. The top pick at numberFire and Guaranteed Tip Sheet is Secret Touch (2/1) breaking from the outside with leading jockey Umberto Rispoli riding. Secret Touch has been competitive at this level at other tracks and is in top form having won 2-of-3 starts this summer including last race by 7-lengths with a 105 speed figure.

Justin’s Quest (5/2) is ridden by top jockey Flavien Pratt and conditioned by EPO trainer Richard Baltas. Justin’s Quest is the best threat from off the pace, and he finished second off a layoff in early August ahead of Secret Touch. He’s been working steady again for his second start since June.

Conquest Cobra (3/1) moves up in class off a highly-rated win in the opening weekend of the meet. He gets an apprentice allowance of 10 pounds for this race.

Grinning Tiger, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1

Race 7 is an Allowance Optional Claiming race at 6 furlongs with seven runners entered. The Horse Racing Radar shows that the Bob Baffert-trained favorite Microrithms (6/5) clocked a bullet workout five days ago that was best of the day at 4 furlongs. Horse Racing Radar also notes his last race at Santa Anita was a win with a 114 speed figure, which is the best of this field. Unfortunately, after all this we now see Microrithms is a late scratch.

Daily Horse Picks had projected Surfing Star (5/1) and Kneedeepinshow (8/1) to finish ahead of Microrithms, while numberFire’s algorithm had Microrithm winning and those other two to finish in-the-money for Exacta and Trifecta wagering.

Grinning Tiger (8/1) looms as an upset candidate as he shortens to a sprint following a series of minor stakes race. He won a minor stakes race at Santa Anita in June at monster odds of 92/1 with a 100 speed figure. He had a fast 3 furlong blowout workout four days ago and appears ready to fire again.