Martin Luther King, Jr. Day comes with racing across the US. It’s a rare Monday where we have more than just a few options. The card is pretty attractive with Fair Grounds Race Course and Santa Anita Park with a racecard.
The feature of the day is at Santa Anita Park with the running of the $125,000 Astra Stakes (Gr. 3). There wasn’t any graded racing on Saturday or Sunday, so this is the first on Martin Luther King Day. We’re going to New Orleans and Arcadia, California on Monday afternoon.
For our Fair Grounds picks, be sure to check out our Fair Grounds Race Course page for more information. Santa Anita has nine races worth $452,000 on Monday afternoon. Head below for our free Santa Anita picks on January 17, 2022.
Race 2
Post Time: 1:00 p.m. PST
Distance:6 Furlongs
Purse:$26,000
Race 2 should be a good one to watch between Happy Trails and Scream and Shout. They are going to be tough to compete with this afternoon.
Happy Trails is a one-time winner in seven attempts and should have a good race. The mare has finished 6th, 5th, 3rd in her previous three races.
She is going to find this one easy enough to compete down the stretch. Happy Trails most recently showed 3rd on December 10 for a $35,000 purse on December 10.
Scream and Shout just might be a bit too tough to edge out in this one, though. She is in great form at the moment and should carry on versus this field.
Scream and Shout is a one-time winner in six assignments, finishing 4th, 1st, 2nd in her last three. She was a winner on October 17 for a $17,000 purse by a nose in an upset.
She held her form well in her latest effort. Scream and Shout placed 2nd behind Big Stretch by a half-length in a $35,000 event on December 10 to show she can compete up in class. She rates as a major threat to win.
Race 3
Post Time: 1:33 p.m. PST
Distance: 1 Mile
Purse:$39,000
Race 3 is a $39,000 event covering a mile on the turf. Look at Acoustic Shadow and Floral Essence to have a chance at going to the winner’s circle in this event.
Acoustic Shadow is winless in eight attempts, but should have her best chance on Monday. With Flavien Prat aboard, Acoustic Shadow is eventually going to find a lane home.
In her previous three outings, Acoustic Shadow has finished 2nd, 3rd, 6th. It was a nice day for Acoustic Shadow on January 15 of last year.
That mare placed 2nd behind Lookin So Lucky by a head for a $35,000 purse on January 15. Since then, she’s gone 3rd in a $35,000 race on March 26, and then most recently 6th in a $36,000 assignment on November 26.
Floral Essence is looking for the first win in her career today as well. She is winless in seven outings, and has finished 6th, 2nd, 9th in her previous three outings.
Two races back, Floral Essence placed 2nd behind Quinevere by 3/4 lengths in a $35,000 race. That was a steady performance and acceptable. Up to $70,000 for her next and most recent race, that didn’t go as well in 9th.
Back down to a level she is more comfortable in, it’s hard to ignore Floral Essence with this kind of value on Monday.
