Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Presidents' Day Monday 2/20/23

The Santa Anita Classic Meet continues on Presidents' Day Monday with 10 races starting at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time) at "The Great Race Place" outside of Los Angeles.

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 some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. General Mathis and Our Shining Light, Race 1

FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 6/5
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The holiday at "The Great Race Place" begins with six older runners going 1 1/8 miles on the turf in a Starter Allowance race. The numberFire projected in-the-money finishers are General Mathis (3/1), Our Shining Light (6/5) and Oncoming (3/1).

Franki Dettori -- a top jockey from the UK and No. 2 in the jockey standings at the Classic Meet -- rides the favorite Our Shining Light after he rode four winners here Saturday. Our Shining Light has won 2-of-4 starts, including a Starter Allowance sprint here last month and now tries a route of ground. General Mathis had a 93-speed figure when winning here last month at the same distance coming from well off the pace.

2. The Chosen Vron, Race 4

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

Race 4 is the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for older Cal-breds going 1 mile. With just five runners, The Chosen Vron (2/5) is the heavy favorite and top pick by numberFire's data. No win return is worth pursuing, but consider a straight exacta with Coalinga Road (5/2) and/or Leyes Candy (7/2) with top jockey Juan Hernandez riding.

The Chosen Vron has won 9-of-13 starts, including four in a row following last month's sprint win at Santa Anita.

3. Sunrise Journey and Jack Sixpack, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 5/2
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 6 is an Allowance race for older Cal-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs. The numberFire algorithm picks Sunrise Journey (3/1), Jack Sixpack (5/2) and Big Talker (4/1) as the order of finish.

Jack Sixpack is conditioned by leading trainer Phil D'Amato. He won his last race in December with a career-best 100-speed figure sprinting shorter. Sunrise Journey has 13 wins in 41 starts and a runner-up finish here last month when getting the lead in the stretch but failing to hold up. Solid trainer Steve Knapp has him running for a $20,000 optional claiming tag.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.