Horse Racing – Pony Picks from Santa Anita

Race-day:  2/4/2009

Race-time:  4:07 pm pst

Santa Anita resume racing on Wednesday with the weather in Southern California being absolutely perfect for the ponies.

Sports betting fans will be happy that tracks like Santa Anita and Gulfstream are back this week after taking two days off.  Online racebook fans should have an easier time finding overlays in fields at Santa Anita and Gulfstream because the online betting pools are much larger.

Let’s get to it!

Santa Anita – Race 7

Optional Claiming $62,500 n2x

For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Up

1 mile on Pro-Ride

Modification – - 5/1 online betting odds

This four year old daughter of Vindication gets Rafael Bejarano and runs for Doug O’Neil.  With 2 wins, 1 second, and 3 thirds out of 9 starts, she definitely has a chance to do some serious things in this race.  She should be able to stalk the expected pace duel between Sheza Maneater and Spinning Yarns.  I suspect that she could win this if given some daylight at the top of the stretch.

Queenofalldiamonds – - 3/1 online betting odds

Out of four races on artificial surfaces, Queenofalldiamonds has 2 wins and 2 places.  She too can stalk the pace before making a run for it at the top of the stretch.  She’s a definite player coming out of the Bobby Frankel barn and she should be able to make her presence felt in this.

Carmel Coffee – - 5/2 online betting odds

She is 6 for 6 in the money in her lifetime with two wins and three second place finishes.  There are no knocks except her price is definitely going to be much lower than both Modification and Queenofalldiamonds.  I like her in this but I don’t like her on top.

Wagering Strategy:

I’m going to bet Modification to win and place as well as putting her with Carmel Coffee and Queenofalldiamonds in an exacta and trifecta box.

Good Luck!