Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Friday 1/20/23

The Santa Anita Classic Meet continues after cancellations the past week due to flooding and inclement weather. Friday's card features nine races with post time to start the day at 3:30 p.m. ET.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, monitor the weather and keep an eye on the track conditions with more than a foot of rain in LA over the past three weeks.

(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 after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Santa Anita Betting

According to numberFire horse racing projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Ready Soul and Vantastic, Race 1

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 7/2
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel
The day begins with a high-end Claiming race for older horses at 1 mile. The numberFire algorithm picks the heavy favorite Ready Soul (8/5) over Vantastic (7/2).

Ready Soul is ridden by the meet's leading jockey Juan Hernadez, who has 17 wins in 57 starts with the next closest jockey at five wins. Hernandez's best mount is in Race 2 on the favorite, Big Switch.

2. Always California and Foolish, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 4/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 5 is a Maiden Claimer for 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile on the turf. The numberFire data picks Always California (5/1) to win with Foolish (4/1) and Itzel (7/2) to hit the board.

Always California debuts with solid morning workouts in place. Her sire is Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. Foolish also makes her career debut. She is sired by solid stallion Practical Joke and ridden by top jockey Flavien Pratt.

3. The Grey Wizard and Bee Catcher, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/2 and 4/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 7 is a 1 1/4 mile Allowance race for older horses on the downhill turf course. The numberFire projections pick the favorite The Grey Wizard (8/5) to win ahead of Bee Catcher (4/1).

Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Velazquez rides The Grey Wizard in his Santa Anita debut. He finished second in a pair of Grade 2 races over his last three starts with triple-digit speed figures.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.