Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 1/15/23

The Santa Anita Classic Meet continues and Sunday's card features 8 races including a Grade 3 stakes. Post time to start the day is at 3:30 p.m. ET, and 12:30 p.m. local Pacific time.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, monitor the weather and keep an eye on the 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 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. Russells Hustle and Looks Rare, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 2/1
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Race 4 is a high-end Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds going 1 mile. The numberFire algorithm projects the favorites Russells Hustle (5/2) and Low Expectations (5/2) to decide the winner. Looks Rare (2/1) can also challenge for the win. UK Top jockey Frankie Dettori, who's riding at the Santa Anita meet, is aboard Looks Rare.

Daily Racing form handicapper Brad Free notes that Russells Hustle has been relatively competitive vs better runners, and he drops down in class and adds blinkers and Lasix. Looks Rare looks like the speed of the field. He finished second in his sprint debut and now stretches out. Low Expectations is another main challenger who also adds blinkers and Lasix, and he's been running well against similar MSW rivals.

2. Sawasdee and Joker Boy, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 4/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 5 is a high-end Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds going 1 mile. The numberFire algorithm projects Joker Boy (4/1) to make a move from off the pace and win ahead of the favorite Sawasdee (5/2). Sawasdee finished first and second in recent races and should get a pace pressing trip in the clear breaking from the outside.

Sonic Brees (5/1) shortens to a sprint and can also challenge.

3. Ganadora and Under the Stars, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and 5/2
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Race 7 is the $200,000 Grade 3 La Canada Stakes for older fillies & mares going 1 1/16 miles. Controversial trainer Bob Baffert has the two favorites, Ganadora (2/1) and Under the Stars (5/2), ridden by the meets leading jockey Juan Hernandez. Both are top win contenders and picks by numberFire's data.

Ganadora won a route race easily by 8-lengths two races back at Los Alamitos, but misfired in a Grade 1 sprint last out finishing fifth ahead of Under the Stars. Kirstenbosch (5/2) finished third at long odds in that Grade 1 ahead of the top two, and numberFire likes his chances to win.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.