There’s a big horse racing card at the BetOnline racebook on Friday. This isn’t the biggest day for stakes racing, but there are nonetheless a lot of options for betting. BetOnline has at least 15 race tracks on the schedule Friday.
The stakes events are relatively quiet tomorrow, with the biggest race at Fair Grounds with the running of the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (Gr. 3). There are two graded races today, both Grade 3 events at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
I’m not too interested in the Fair Grounds card, but playing Gulfstream Park in Florida this afternoon. From Florida to the other side of the country in California at Santa Anita Park. Santa Anita has a $361,000 card with eight races on Friday.
Head below for our best Santa Anita Park picks on January 21, 2022.
Race 2
Post Time: 1:00 p.m. PST
Distance:5 ½ Furlongs
Purse:$43,000
Race 2 has duel potential between Sauls Call and Tizlightning. These two are in fine form at the moment and should have a strong presence in the stretch run.
Tizlightning is a perfect three-for-three after another win on January 14. I backed Tizlightning in that race and was rewarded with a $40,000 winning performance.
There was some luck with that win, though, as Con On the Run drifted and bumped resulting in a disqualification. Tizlightning was beaten at the wire by a neck, but awarded the win because of DQ.
Sauls Call is 3 for 8 and is in good form at the moment. He’s finished 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1st in his previous five outings.
In his latest assignment, Sauls Call beat Im Still Thirsty by 6 lengths in a $39,000 event on December 5. This win was after showing 3rd on October 29 in a $36,000 race.
Based on recent form, Sauls Call appears to have a step on Tizlightning at the wire.
Race 5
Post Time: 2:35 p.m. PST
Distance: 1 Mile
Purse:$39,000
Race 5 covers a mile on the dirt for a $39,000 purse. Deservedly and Vetoed are going to be tough runners to beat in this one.
Deservedly has finished 3rd, 6th, 6th, 6th in four races in his career. In his most recent race, he finished 6th for a $70,000 purse.
It has been disappointing for Mark Glatt that Deservedly hasn’t done better at that level, so it’s down to $39,000. This is a $200,000 gelding related to 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. There are higher expectations.
Vetoed has finished 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 7th in four races. In his latest race, he finished 7th for a $70,000 purse after going 3rd on September 19 in a $46,000 event.
Bob Baffert’s trainee bobbled his last start so that put him well behind and unable to recover. If he has a cleaner start on Friday, this should be a winning opportunity for Vetoed on his home track.
Race 8
Post Time: 4:10 p.m. PST
Distance:1 Mile
Purse:$31,000
Race 8 is the final race at Santa Anita Park on Friday. Pistachio Princess and Badger Kitten are high on my shortlist to win.
Pistachio Princess is 1 for 12 in her career and the filly has a good chance to get a second win today. She has finished 2nd, 2nd, 6th in her last three races.
Pistachio Princess placed 2nd in back-to-back races for a $28,000 purse and then a $30,000 purse most recently on November 14. She was a half-length off the pace at the wire in that one.
In her latest race, she disappointed finishing 6th for a $72,000 purse. Back down in class look for Pistachio Princess to do something at this level.
Badger Kitten is a one-time winner through seven assignments, finishing 8th, 1st, 4th in her previous three races. Two races back, Badger Kitten beat Twirling Grace by 2 ½ lengths in a $36,000 race.
The filly came back on January 7 to finish 4th in a $47,000 race. The jump in grade was acceptable given how she was running against weaker foes.
However, Badger Kitten is sliding down further than $36,000 to $31,000. This looks like a race for her to handle.
