Santa Anita Picks: MLK Holiday Racing January 17

Opening Day at Santa Anita seems a distant memory ... As we head into January, while the East Coast and Upper South are being hit by a cold blast, it is warm in sunny SoCal for some racing on the Martin Luther King Holiday!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action from what is known as "The Great Race Place." It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! 

If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Monday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Do not forget to follow us on Twitter ... @Horseracing_USA ...

Most Likely Winner: (Race 1: Tigerhon #3, 3/1):

This 4-yr-old colt by Bated Breath (GB) has the chops to handle “The Hill.” An old handicapping move from way back in 2013 … cutback from 1 Mile to the 6½F that is needed here. Mark Glatt has a good meet going, and I think he should win this one. John Velazquez gets the call, and he has done well to rival Flavien Prat. This one should score the victory at odds of around 3/1.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #3

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 5: Soaring Sky #2, 8/1):

If you are unfamiliar with owner Zhang Yuesheng then you should know that Mrs. Jessica Harrington has trained for the businessman. He has interests in Australia as well. This runner was one I followed in Ireland last year, and the then-3-yr-old filly flashed both speed and brilliance. Mrs. Harrington brought her over for the Del Mar Oaks (G1) back in August, and even though she ended up 8th, it was good to see her campaigning on the West Coast. Now this filly comes into Sadler’s care, and I think she can be solid for this barn. Sadler had a great end to ’21, and he is ready to make even more moves across the divisions. This daughter that is well-bred by Free Eagle (IRE) gets expert lawn jockey JJ Hernandez, and that suits me fine!

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #2 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 7: Turf, 1½, Astra S. (G3), F&M 4+):

The “feature” on the Monday card at Santa Anita is this race … the Astra. A G3 event for turfers who are going the distance, you could easily argue that Leo Powell already has the winner in Neige Blanche (FR) #1. The 5-yr-old is owned by Madaket S., and you know that that translates too … a solid investment. At 2/5 on the M/L that price does not sound enticing, but she has the class to back it up. She won the Red Carpet (G3) last out at Del Mar in late November, so if you think she can repeat a score in a spot like this (after a nearly 2-month break), then it is going to be hard to “talk” you off her. For the sake of variety, I am going to look to Jonathan Wong’s Cal bred, Reiwa #4. I know she does not have the experience in graded company, but she has shipped south before from Golden Gate. Knowing SoCal can be a plus. One other that we must consider is Flavien Prat’s mount, Disappearing Act #2. Prat’s ability on the green speaks for itself, but his ride by Magician (IRE) has wins at this track. That is hard to overlook, especially if you are scrounging for value. I am going to construct a ticket that exploits the fact that Powell’s ace does not have her best fastball on Monday. Swing for the fences …

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Trifecta Wheel, 2/4 w 2/4 w 1

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Enjoy some racing from “The Great Race Place” Best of luck on another run at Santa Anita!