Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 1/21/23

The Santa Anita Classic Meet continues after cancellations this past week due to flooding and inclement weather. Saturday's card features 10 races, including a minor stakes with post time to start the day at 3:00 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. Warrens Candy Girl and Barrister's Ride, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1 and 12/1
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Race 8 is the $100,000 Astra Stakes for older horses going a 1 1/2 mile route on the downhill turf. The numberFire data picks Queen Ofthe Temple (3/1) with Warrens Candy Girl (6/1) and Lady Clementine (5/1) to hit the board. Those three all break from the inside posts in the field of nine. The meet's leading jockey Juan Hernandez rides Queen Ofthe Temple with top jockey Flavien Pratt on Lady Clementine and top turf rider Umberto Rispoli on Warrens Candy Girl, who has a minor stakes win to his credit.

Queen Ofthe Temple is 0-for-3 in graded stakes races running from off the pace and is a better fit here. Same with Lady Clementine, who has missed the board badly in three graded stakes starts.

Barrister's Ride (12/1) is one to include for the win and exacta as a longshot, according to Guaranteed Tip Sheet. He's sharp in recent morning work and finished third with consistent speed figures in his only minor stakes start.

2. Top of My Game and Army Star, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 12/1 and 7/2
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Race 9 is a Starter Optional Claimer for 3-year-olds spriting 6 furlongs. The numberFire projections like Top of My Game (12/1) to challenge the favorite Army Star (7/2) and Crowning Gold (4/1) for the win.

Top of My Game has been a consistent runner since breaking his maiden last summer with solid horseman Steve Knapp training. Army Star has won his last two starts with three career races and will be pushing along the lead with a chance to make it three in a row.

3. Dandy Man Shines and One of These Days, Race 10

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 4/1
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Race 10 is a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Dandy Man Shines (7/2) and One of These Days (4/1) are the top picks to win, according to the numberFire data. They break from the rail and outside post No. 12 with Juan Hernandez riding One of These Days, who is making his third start and first in the U.S.

Dandy Man Shines has shown more speed and also finished third as the favorite in a Grade 3 race. Umberto Rispoli rides with the best chance to win.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.