Santa Anita Picks: New Year’s Day Stakes Analysis

Happy Birthday horses! The first of the year means every horse gets one year older and the new year of stakes racing begins. Check out our Santa Anita Picks for the Grade 3 Las Flores.

Happy Birthday

One of the idiosyncrasies of horse racing is that all horses share the same birthday. Despite being foaled at different times throughout the year, the thoroughbred industry considers every horse born during the year to age up on January 1st.

This means that a horse born both in January of 2021 and one born in December of 2021 will both turn 3 in the eyes of the racing world when the clock strikes midnight.

Handicapping in the New Year

As handicappers this can be an important aspect of handicapping. Three year olds foaled in the second half of 2021 or 2022 are likely to be developmentally behind their counterparts born earlier. Through the first four months of the year give preference to those horses foaled in the first quarter of their birth year.

Full Card Analysis

Bet all of today’s selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetDSI.

Santa Anita Picks- Race 1

$65k Maiden Special Weight going 6 f on turf; Post: 12:00 PM PT; Entries: 8

• #8 GIRL OF MY DREAMS (5-2): Gets the top selection. The class of the field this runner has an experience edge and should get a great pace. Bet today’s best Best Bet at BetUS.
• #2 HAMBLE (4-1): Should improve off the first start and is a major player in this race. Will run for the combination of Mccarthy and Dettori. Makes sense on speed figures.
• #1 ASHLEY (4-1): Isn’t without hope. Runs evenly and will get a very fair pace scenario here. Likely to be part of the early pace.
• #3 ELLIE MOORE (6-1): Isn’t without hope. Has been running against decent company. Runs evenly and will get a very fair pace scenario here.

Selections: 8 – 2 – 1 – 3

Santa Anita Picks- Race 2

$67k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 f on dirt; Post: 12:31 PM PT; Entries: 5

• #5 PRANCINGTHRUPARIS (3-1): Gets the top selection. Makes sense on speed figures. The class of the field.
• #4 CLUBHOUSE BRIDE (4-5): Should improve off the first start and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. Runs races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 BORNTOSTAYTHIRSTY (8-1): Feels like a fringe contender in this spot. Has been running against decent company. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 BACK ON TRACK (5-2): Isn’t without hope. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 3 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 3

$38k Starter Optional Claiming going 1 m on turf; Post: 1:02 PM PT; Entries: 7

• #4 MAHINA (3-1): Gets the top selection. Makes sense on speed figures. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 WITH LOVE (2-1): A major player in this race. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Will likely get the right setup in this race.
• #7 FIRSTTIMEINFOREVER (5-2): A major player in this race. Goes out for the Powell barn and gets Dettori in the irons. Runs races good enough to beat this group.
• #1 STAY IN LINE (7-2): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Has the top overall power rating in the group.

Selections: 4 – 6 – 7 – 1

Santa Anita Picks- Race 4

$65k Maiden Special Weight going 1 m on dirt; Post: 1:32 PM PT; Entries: 6

• #1 IMAGINATION (6-5): Gets the top selection. Runs races good enough to beat this group. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 INDISPENSABLE (4-1): Has a shot in this race. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. Makes sense on speed figures.
• #3 MAXIMUM CAPACITY (5-1): Isn’t without hope. Runs really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #6 AINT NO JOKE (5-1): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Runs evenly and will get a very fair pace scenario here.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 3 – 6

Santa Anita Picks- Race 5

$37k Claiming going 1 m on turf; Post: 2:04 PM PT; Entries: 7

• #5 MARGOT’S BOY (2-1): Gets the top selection. A good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #6 TAISHAN (5-2): Will be competitive in this spot. The class of the field. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #3 JACKS OUTLAW (5-1): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Has been running against decent company. Has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #4 COMRADERY (6-1): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Runs races good enough to beat this group. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 3 – 4

Santa Anita Picks- Race 6

$27k Maiden Claiming going 5 1/2 f on dirt; Post: 2:37 PM PT; Entries: 11

• #4 LIGHTING AND REIGN (5-1): Gets the top selection. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts. The class of the field.
• #2 SHE’S MY NIECE (5-2): Will be competitive in this spot. Runs races good enough to beat this group. Has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front-running speed.
• #11 MUMBLES BROCKMAN (6-1): Isn’t without hope. Will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. Has been running against decent company.
• #5 WE’LL DO IT LIVE (6-1): Isn’t without hope. Has been running against decent company. Has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front-running speed.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 11 – 5

Santa Anita Picks- Race 7

$69k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 f on turf; Post: 3:10 PM PT; Entries: 7

• #7 GREGORIAN CHANT (5-2): Gets the top selection. Has the top overall power rating in the group. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 MAS RAPIDO (7-2): A major player in this race. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #2 SILVER SURFER (4-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. Has been running against decent company.
• #3 ZOFFARELLI (4-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Runs races good enough to beat this group. Has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front-running speed.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 2 – 3

Santa Anita Picks- Race 8

$100k Las Flores S. going 6 f on dirt; Post: 3:43 PM PT; Entries: 5

• #2 HOT PEPPERS (5-2): Gets the top selection. May benefit from a hot pace up front. Likely to be part of the early pace.
• #1 LADY T (7-2): A major player in this race. Projects to sit mid-pack and come with one run.
• #3 SWEET AZTECA (6-5): Should improve off the first start and will be competitive in this spot. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Will run for the combination of Mccarthy and Dettori.
• #5 VIOLENT RUNNER (4-1): Has a shot in this race. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. The class of the field.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 3 – 5

Santa Anita Picks- Race 9

$65k Maiden Special Weight going 6 f on turf; Post: 4:15 PM PT; Entries: 9

• #5 ALLURING (2-1): Should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. Well-bred for this spot. Will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #2 NOT A SINNER (5-2): A major player in this race. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. Goes out for the Callaghan barn and gets Dettori in the irons.
• #6 SPIRIT RULES (6-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Comes into the race in really good form. The class of the field.
• #7 BELLE EPOQUE (12-1): A price horse and isn’t without hope. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 6 – 7

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Betting News provides AI generated handicapping tools for all of the major tracks around the country each and every day.

In addition, Betting News will continue to provide in depth analysis of select racing cards throughout the week.

Monday

• Santa Anita Picks featuring the Grade 3 Las Flores

Saturday

• Aqueduct Picks featuring the Jerome
• Gulfstream Park Picks featuring the Ginger Brew
• Santa Anita Picks featuring the Grade 2 San Vicenta

Saturday

• Santa Anita Picks featuring the Grade 3 Santa Ynez

Kentucky Derby Future Prop

Bet on your favorite horse to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby today. Also, check out our analysis of the top of the market in the Derby futures wagers. Bet the Kentucky Derby future pool on Bovada.

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