Horse Racing Picks - Grade I Santa Anita Oaks

Horse Pick of the Day:  Santa Anita Park – Race 7

Race-day:  3/7/2009

Nothing makes racebook fans happier than to check out a graded race and see that a low-priced favorite is vulnerable.

Betting against the chalk is the best way to make profits in horse racing.  Such is the case in race 7 at Santa Anita Park this Saturday, the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks.

Let’s analyze the Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday.

Santa Anita Park – Race 7

Grade I Santa Anita Oaks

$300,000

For Fillies, Three Years Old

1 1/16th miles on Pro-Ride

Beltene - - 7/2 fair online betting odds

Beltene is undefeated at 5 ½ to 6 furlongs and now stretches out to take on the brilliant Stardom Bound.  Does she have a chance?  If her last race, a victory in the Sunshine Millions Oaks, is any indication, then yes she does.  She can be right up on the pace or come from the clouds.  That makes her much more tractable in this race than Stardom Bound.  If she can get a lead midway through the stretch, then she has a shot to hold off Stardom Bound for the victory.

Stardom Bound - - 2/1 fair online betting odds

Make no mistake, if Stardom Bound goes off at 2 to 1 or higher, then she’s the play in the race.  She’s easily one of the best, if not the best, three year old filly in the nation right now and only Evita Argentina can challenge her for that title.  But she hasn’t been as fast as some gamblers would expect.  To me, it means she might be vulnerable versus a filly like Beltene.  I’d bet at 2 to 1, but I wouldn’t go any lower.

Acronym - - 5/1 fair online betting odds

Yes, she just broke her maiden and taking on Stardom Bound is a whole other thing than beating those maiden fillies like she did in her last race, but her daddy is Empire Maker and she’s trained by Bobby Frankel.  Who knows?  Maybe, she really improves enough to win this.

Wagering Strategy: I’m going to bet Beltene to win and place at odds of 7 to 2 or higher.  I will also put Beltene, Stardom Bound and Acronym in an exacta and trifecta box.