Santa Anita Park Horse Racing Picks for Friday 6/18/21
Starting at 4:00 p.m. EST, we have 11 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.)
Speed Pass and Dr. Schivel, Race 4
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 8/5
Restrictions are lifted and walk-up admissions are allowed for more fans at Santa Anita starting this weekend. Race 4 marks the return of Grade I winner Dr. Schivel (8/5) for this Allowance race at 6 furlongs. Top jockey Flavien Prat rides, and numberFire’s data likes his chances to win off a long layoff ahead of Speed Pass (5/2).
Speed Pass will be running on the lead with Canadian Pride (9/5) pressing. Speed Pass was the odds-on favorite last race and finished third but is in better form than the favorite.
Hudson Ridge, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
Race 9 is a high-end Allowance Optional Claiming race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Top EPO trainer Bob Baffert saddles the favorite breaking from the rail, Hudson Ridge (5/2). Horse Racing Radar notes he’s a son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and he won a minor stakes race last month and has since posted a bullet in his morning workouts. Hudson Ridge is the top top choice of numberFire and best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet.
Flashiest (3/1) has plenty of speed with Flavien Prat riding. He’s lightly-raced and 2-for-2 off an Allowance win last month with faster fractions as the race progressed. Looks ready to handle the added distance.
Midcourt, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5
Race 10 is a featured Allowance race with just five runners going 1 mile. Ax Man (7/5) will be tough to catch in his first start since finishing fourth in a Grade 3 race here. He’s posted a bullet workout in the past week and Mike Smith rides for trainer Bob Baffert.
But Guaranteed Tip Sheet along with numberFire's algorithm likes the other favorite, Midcourt (9/5), to duel and beat Ax Man. Midcourt has race in 10 straight graded stakes races and consistently finishes in-the-money with triple-digit speed figures. He’s a five-time winner and makes his 2021 debut.
