Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 5/31/20
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 eight 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.
Into Victory, Race 6
FD Racing Odds: 15/1
The start of the Late Pick 3 is a Maiden Special Weight 5 1/2 furlong sprint for fillies and mares. Rakassah (2-1) is the favorite for EPO trainer Phil D’Amato with the tracks leading rider Flavien Prat aboard (25% win rate, per Equibase). Rakassah had back-to-back runner-up finishes earlier this year and improved his Equibase speed number (85) last time out in February. Rakassah will take money and go off at a shorter price, and we’ll instead try first-time starter and longshot Into Victory (15-1), who was sired by Into Mischief with a dam produced multiple winners. The field is not a good one, and FanDuel Racing also likes Sandal (7/2), giving her a 22% chance to win, and jockey Victor Espinoza should have her out of the gate breaking for the lead.
Hard Not To Love, Race 7
FD Racing Odds: 9/5
The $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) drew just five runners in the 1 1/16 mile race for older fillies and mares. Hard Not To Love (9/5) has five wins in seven starts and has hit the board in all seven races. She's the top pick on numberFire projections, and she'll be pressing the pace again and hopefully not too hot with Fighting Mad (6/1). Hard Not To Love was runner-up finish to Ce Ce (3-5) in the Beholder Mile (G1) March 14, and those two will duel again today as the top two betting choices. Hard Not To Love was the heavy favorite in defeat that day, and she’s ready for redemption off a five-furlong bullet work best of 49 horses this past week. TimeForm also likes Hard Not To Love best.
Meso and Tonahutu, Race 8
FD Racing Odds: 15/1 and 3/1
A competitive $32,000 claimer for fillies and mares going one mile on the turf. Meso (15/1) won’t get much support by bettors, but she was doing some of her better work from November to her last race in February, a fast-closing runner-up finish losing by a nose as the favorite. That was on dirt, and TimeForm gives her a much better chance on turf at these odds with the favorite Sugary (5/2) an overbet favorite. Miss Flawless (7/2) was second to Sugary on January 24 and has eight in-the-money finishes, including four wins in her 10 starts. Tonahutu (3/1) gets major class relief after taking on some stronger turf runners. The Irish-bred has consistently solid Equibase speed numbers and should be running on well late with the best closing times in this field.
