Santa Anita Park Horse Racing Picks for Friday 4/30/21
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.)
Miss Shady, Race 2
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1
The first two-year-old race of the Santa Anita season is a short sprint at 4 1/2 furlongs. numberFire's data projects Swanning (5/2) or Miss Shady (3/1) to cross the finish line first ahead of the favorite, Drizella (2/1), who has the meet's second leading jockey Juan Hernandez, riding. Drizella trainer Luis Mendez won with three of his first five debut two-year-olds at this meet last year, according to Horse Racing Radar. She had a quick workout from the gate here less than two weeks ago and should be included in exacta wagering.
Miss Shady also had a quick gate work in her final training prep, and she looks ready to fire. Her dam had won her career debut. Swanning has a consistent work tab and is a sibling to a stakes winner.
Big Coupe and Beaudacious, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 9/5
Race 6 is a Maiden Special Weight for seven state-bred runners going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The numberFire projections like favorite Beaudacious (9/5) to win. Henchman (20/1) is a big longshot to consider, along with Big Coupe (5/2).
Big Coupe showed a good late rally and improved speed figure (86) in her second start in March. The added distance should help, and he gets an eight-pound weight break over the four-year-old Beaudacious.
Beaudacious finished a respectable second last race in a similar conditioned event, and those two should decide this race.
Midnight Jamboree, Race 7
FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5
Friday’s feature is a Starter Allowance race for older fillies and mares going 1 mile. The top pick of numberFire’s algorithm is favorite Midnight Jamboree (8/5) for trainer Bill Spawr. She’s vastly improved this season with a win followed by a close loss last race at this same distance. In the role as favorite across his last 14 starts, trainer Bill Spawr has won 11 times and finished runner-up in the other three, per Horse Racing Radar and Guaranteed Tip Sheet.
Paige Runner (2/1) is the biggest challenger, but she finished 8 lengths behind Midnight Jamboree last race.
