Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Friday 4/7/23

The Santa Anita Classic Meet continues Friday at "The Great Race Place" with 9 races and post time at 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. local. Saturday's big day of racing is headlined by the Santa Anita Derby -- a prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

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. Doris May and Big Shamrock, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5 and 5/2
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 4 is an Allowance race for state-bred fillies and mares sprinting in 6 furlongs. The numberFire data projects the favorite Doris Mae (9/5) to hold off leading contenders Big Shamrock (5/2) and Vella (6/1).

Doris Mae is ridden by the meet's top jockey Juan Hernandez, whose 56 wins are more than twice any other jockey's victories. She finished a close 3rd running on the lead here in a graded stakes race at the end of 2022. Big Shamrock is a best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet (GTS). She won a 6-furlong race to start the year running along the lead and then finished 3rd last race.

2. Isabel Ludlow and Timely Luck, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 6/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 7 is a Maiden Special Weight for Cal-bred fillies and mares sprinting 6 furlongs on the turf. The numberFire order of finish is Bold Choice (4/1) ahead of Magic Game (5/1) and the favorite, Isabel Ludlow (7/2). Guaranteed Tip Sheet agrees with those and also projects Timely Luck (6/1) to challenge for the win.

Isabel Ludlow finished runner-up in her two career starts this year, and hit an improved 80-speed figure last race in March as the favorite againsr 12 runners. Timely Luck finished 3rd in her second start in Feb. with improved speed and has had a pair of fast, strong morning works since.

3. Mamba Cool and Sunset Babe, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 12/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 9 is an Allowance race for Cal-bred runners at 1-mile on the turf. The numberFire data projects an upset by Sunshine Babe (12/1) over the favorite, Mamba Cool (7/2). GTS also likes Anitanewmercedes (6/1).

Mamba Cool is ridden by top turf jockey Umberto Rispoli. He finished second and third in two starts this year and posted his best triple-digit speed figures from 12 career starts. Sunshine Babe has been off for a few months but hit the board in three of his last five starts and will close from off the pace in this race setup.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.