Santa Anita Park Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 2/21/21
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 9 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.)
Eagle Chief and Tivoli Trail, Race 5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 4/1
Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weight for three-year-olds, and it's going 6 furlongs on the turf. Favorite Ambivalent (5/2) breaks from the outside No. 9 9 post for leading trainer Doug O’Neill. The two horses to decide the race, according to numberFire’s data, will be Ambivalent and Eagle Chief (3/1), with the meet's second winningest jockey, Juan Hernandez, riding Eagle Chief.
Ambivalent is 0-for-6 with four in-the-money finishes. He rates top class and has run in three graded stakes races, including his last race when finishing third in the Bob Hope at Del Mar in November with an 82 speed figure. He is switching to turf for his 2021 debut.
Eagle Chief is a gelded son of Into Mischief, and he’s improved every start. He finished third less than three weeks ago, chasing fast early fractions. Tivoli Trail (4/1) should move up and run better up front on the turf for trainer Bob Baffert.
Becca Taylor, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5
Race 6 is an Allowance race for state-bred fillies, and it is sprinting 6 furlongs. Guaranteed Tip Sheet has a best bet on favorite Becca Taylor (9/5), and numberFire's algorithm agrees with apprentice jockey Jessica Pyfer riding with a seven-pound allowance from the outside No. 6 post. Becca Taylor is 2-for-2 and won here a month ago on the turf, leaving her eligible for this race and switch to the grass.
Hotitute and She's a Dime, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 6/1
Race 8 is the $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older state bred fillies and mares, and it's scheduled for 6 furlongs. The top pick of numberFire's projections is Bella Vita (9/5), who is off a nine-month layoff and has finished in the money in all four starts. She’ll be near the front, and if ready to fire, she’s fast enough to beat this modest group. Hotitude (7/2) won here last month with a solid 93 speed figure but followed up with a poor race.
Dr. Wysong (10/1) has a win and place in two starts at this track and has strong gate-break rider Abel Cedillo aboard. She’s a Dime (6/1) for trainer Doug O’Neill won her last start wire-to-wire three weeks ago and has run well in Allowance company with a win, place and show in four Santa Anita starts, per Horse Racing Radar. She’s hit the board in 6-of-8 at the distance.
