Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Friday 2/17/23

The Santa Anita Classic Meet continues on Friday with seven races starting at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local time) at "The Great Race Place".

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 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. Point and Shoot and Love Our Family, Race 1

FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 5/2

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The day begins with a Maiden Special Weight for Cal-bred 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the turf. The numberFire data projects the two favorites to decide the race with Point and Shoot (3/1) getting the head bob win over Love Our Family (5/2), who has the meet's top jockey Juan Hernandez riding.

Point and Shoot raced twice here last month and finished a very close runner-up, coming hard from off the pace to miss by a head with veteran jockey Kent Desormeaux riding. Love Our Family finished third in that race a half-length behind after leading the race from the gate into the deep stretch.

2. Anticipated and Tiz Tok, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1 and 8/5

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Race 4 is a Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds going one mile. The numberFire projections pick Glendale (6/1) and Ice Storm (4/1) to finish in front of the favorite Tiz Tok (8/5) for leading trainer Doug O'Neill.

Glendale has a sharp workout in place, but has missed the board in five straight starts and regressed last race. Ice Storm has shown little speed while Tiz Tok is 0-for-2 and missed the board in both starts. With little speed in the race and a weak field, give Anticipated (6/1) a look with first-time Lasix for his 2023 debut.

3. Russells Hustle and Zio Jo, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1 and 5/2

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Race 7 is a Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf. Zio Jo (5/2) is the favorite and top pick, according to numberFire data. Russells Hustle (4/1) and Bluegrass Rider (4/1) are challengers.

Leading jockey Frankie Dettori rides Russells Hustle, and he can be a factor with a pressing trip off a third-place finish here last month and showing past stronger speed figures. Zio Jo has stronger speed figures but has failed to finish in the money in all seven of his starts.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.