Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 10/8/22

Starting at 4:00 p.m. ET, we have 10 races Saturday at Santa Anita including three graded stakes 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 -- adjusted 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. Family Way and Going to Vegas, Race 5

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

Race 5 is the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares going 1 1/4 miles on the downhill turf. The numberFire data projects the favorites to decide the race - Fluffy Sox (2/1) along with Going To Vegas (5/2) and Family Way (5/2). Horse Racing Nation (HRN) Super Screener agrees, and has Bellamore (15/1) as a top longshot.

Going to Vegas will be the pace setter. Family Way has raced against stronger runners her last four starts, and finished first or second in her last six starts making her a good bet to hit the Exacta again.

2. Home Cooking and And Tell Me Nollies, Race 6

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

Race 6 is the $200,000 Chandelier Stakes (G2) for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles. The numberFire algorithm projects Home Cooking (3/1) along with And Tell Me Nolies (3/1) to battle for the win ahead of Ice Dancing (10/1). This is a "Win and You're In" BC Challenge Series race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Home Cooking is trained by controversial Bob Baffert. She'll be challenged, but should relish the added ground. She's bred stoutly on both the sire and dam side, according to HRN. Note that And Tell Me Nolies beat Home Cooking last race by a nose in the TVG Del Mar Debutante (G1). That race had a more favorable setup for the winner.

3. Cave Rock and Skinner, Race 8

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

Race 8 is the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The numberFire data picks heavy favorite and pace setter Cave Rock (4/5) to beat Skinner (5/1) and Hejazi (5/2).

The Horse Racing Nation picks agree with numberFire.

This is the final Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” prep race on the Santa Anita card. It will showcase some of the top 2-year-olds in the country with the winner getting the automatic bid to the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.