​Santa Anita Park Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 6/12/21

Starting at 4:00 p.m. EST, we have nine 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 monitor 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.)

Assunta and It’s Simple, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 20/1 and 5/2

Race 4 is a Maiden Special Weight for state bred two-year-old fillies sprinting 5 furlongs. These baby races can produce upsets, although the breeding and workouts often sway bettors at FanDuel Racing.

numberFire's algorithm projects favorite It’s Simple (5/2) to win and longshot Assunta (20/1) to hit the board along with Sally Stanford (7/2). This race is the start of the Rainbow Pick 6 Jackpot, and including all three can payoff with the larger field and potential longshot winner.

It’s Simple was sired by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, and she’s posted a pair of bullet works in May. Assunta is bred by Stay Thirsty, who is familiar and praised by Top Race Reports. She gets a weight reduction over the field with apprentice jockey Jessica Pyfer riding. Sally Stanford has top gate jockey Abel Cedillo riding and should get an early jump.

Liar Liar, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1

Race 5 is a Starter Allowance at 1 mile on the turf. numberFire's data projects Liar Liar (2/1) to win, and he’s also a best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet. Liar Liar is ridden by top turf jockey Juan Hernandez for leading EPO trainer Peter Miller.

Liar Liar has raced at this distance in each of his last three starts, and he finished runner-up twice as favorite and won last time out in May. One of his losses was by a nose with a 96 speed figure. He’s the best runner in this weaker field, and if there is any challenge, it should come from Foothill (5/2) or Seeking Refuge (7/2), the latter of whom has top turf rider Umberto Rispoli aboard.

Colt Fiction and Brickyard Ride, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 9/5

Race 8 is the $100K Thor’s Echo Handicap for older state-bred runners sprinting 6 furlongs. numberFire projects favorite Brickyard Ride (9/5) to top Colt Fiction (5/2). Speed should rule, according to Horse Racing Radar, and those two should be the early speed to the quarter pole.

Fashionably Fast (2/1) has the name and game to challenge, and he has hit the board in 8-of-9 starts at Santa Anita. Jamming Eddy (10/1) has the best pedigree for the distance and surface, per Horse Racing Radar. He also has the meet's top jockey, Flavien Prat, riding.