Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 4/16/22
Starting at 4:00 p.m. EST, we have 10 races at Santa Anita. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets on FanDuel Racing.
As always, check the program for racing information and scratches and changes. Also, watch 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).
Barsabas and Doitforandrew, Race 5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 7/2
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Race 5 is a high-end Allowance race for 3-year-olds going 1 mile on the turf. The top picks according to numberFire’s data is Barsabas (5/2) and Doitforandrew (7/2).
Barsabas drops down after finishing fifth last out in a turf mile stakes. But his final quarter time of 23:61 suggests he’s able to outrun this group down the stretch.
Doitforandrew breaks from the rail right next to Shut Up Michael (4/1). They are a pair of European runners for EPO trainer Phil D’Amato, and need to be considered for his regimen and stretch out from a sprint to mile for Doitforandrew.
Li’l Grazen and Smoothlikebuttah, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 5/1
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Race 8 is an Allowance Race for state-bred fillies and mares sprinting 5 ½ furlongs. The numberFire data projects Increase Stakes (4/1) to outkick Smoothlikebuttah (5/1) and Respectfully (10/1).
Increase Stakes is seeking her third straight win, but the other two were on turf.
Li’l Grazen (3/1) will take money having won four times at this level. She appears to be a standout with the most speed in this Cal-bred Allowance/Optional Claiming race. She was claimed last race for $12.5k by Ruben Alvarado, who was an assistant trainer for Li’l Grazen previously.
Smoothlikebuttah will be rallying off the pace. She has won just 1-of-26 starts, but finished in-the-money 14 times including her last three races.
Special Ride and Hero Status, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 5/2
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Race 10 is a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds and up, and 11 runners are sprinting 6 furlongs. The numberFire algorithm projects Hero Status (5/2) to win in his debut ahead of Bletchley Park (5/1) and Special Ride (3/1), who is a best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet.
Special Ride finished second by a neck in his debut, and could have won with a better trip having been shuffled back on the back stretch.
Hero Status makes his debut, and looked solid in his gate work two weeks ago. He could fire and appears ready with trainer Mark Glatt having won with two of his last four Maiden Special Weight runners.
