Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks Including Kentucky Derby and Oaks Prep Races for Saturday 4/8/23

Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks Including Kentucky Derby and Oaks Prep Races for Saturday 4/8/23

Updated:

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues with the biggest point races of the Championship Series. Saturday's big races at Santa Anita include the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby and the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

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 and Guaranteed Tip Sheet, these are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Geaux Rocket Ride and Practical Move, Race 6


FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 8/5
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Race 6 is the $750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles. This is a Kentucky Derby points race with the top-5 finishers earning 100-40-30-20-10 points Top jockey Flavien Prat rides Geaux Rocket Ride (3/1), who is expected to challenge for the win with Practical Move (8/5), according to Guaranteed Tip Sheet.

Practical Move won his last two Graded stakes efforts with ease. Geaux Rocket Ride finished second behind the top choice last out but figures to improve in his second route run. National Treasure (3/1) beat Practical Move in their debuts and finished behind big names like Forte since. Low Expectations (30/1) could be a big price that hits the board since he is unbeaten in two at Santa Anita.

Racing picks and full field odds are provided in FanDuel's Santa Anita Derby preview.

2. Legg's Galore and Amy C, Race 10


FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1 and 7/2
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Race 10 is the $200,000 Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf. The numberFire data and GTS prefer Leggs Galore (4/1) and Amy C (7/2) to challenge for the win.

Leggs Galore has seven wins and two seconds in 10 at Santa Anita. Amy C won three of four at Santa Anita and 3-for-3 at the distance. Tom's Beauty (12/1) also won 3-of-4 at Santa Anita including his lone go at todays distance. Big Summer (5/1) never missed the money is six Santa Anita efforts.

3. Faiza and And Tell Me Nolies, Race 11


FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5 and 4/1
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Race 9 is the $400,000 Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. This is a Kentucky Oaks points race with the top-5 finishers earning 100-40-30-20-10 points. The numberFire data and Guaranteed Tip Sheet likes the favorite Faiza (9/5) to win. Three other challengers will battle for the place and show spots - Clearly Unhinged (4/1), Window Shopping (4/1) and Tell Me Nolies (4/1).

Faiza is undefeated in four races including two at Santa Anita and two at the distance. Clearly Unhinged won her debut easily and has a bullet workout since. Window Shopping won her last by 16 lengths in a big effort. And Tell Me Nolies should improve noticeably in round two off the bench.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.