Horse Pick of the Day - Santa Anita Race 7

Race-day: 10/29/2009

Race-time: 4:08 pm EST

In less than ten days Santa Anita Park will host the 2009 Breeders’ Cup. Horses, trainers and jockeys from all over the world will travel to Arcadia, CA for the yearly thoroughbred World Series.

Santa Anita is eagerly awaiting Breeders’ Cup day, but it’s not forgetting that horseplayers like to play the ponies everyday. That’s why Santa Anita is still hosting terrific racing action during the week.

Let’s take a look at Race 7 at Santa Anita Park on Thursday.

Santa Anita – Race 7

Allowance $40,000 n$y

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward Which Have Never Won $10,000 Twice Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Starter or State Bred, or Which Have Never Won Three Races

6 furlongs on Pro-Ride

Sleep Tight - - 7/2 morning line odds

Sleep Tight has finished 2nd in her last two races for trainer Mike Mitchell and owner Tighten Er Up Racing Stable and Graham. She’s gone 3 and 1 out of 4 races over the Pro-Ride surface and is 3 and 3 out of 8 over all weather surfaces. That makes her a serious player in this as she has run as fast as any other horse in the race besides Mi Chiamano Mimi, should be able to stalk that leader with other speed in this, and figures to keep her morning line odds or maybe even drift up some. She’s a great bet in this race.

G.I. Betty - - 12/1 morning line odds

Every horse in this race is either an early presser or an early front-runner. That’s why G.I. Betty is so enticing for a wager in this. She’s the lone real presser in this race which means that while the others are battling each other for the lead or jockeying for a good spot early on in this race, G.I. Betty could hang back and make a nice, protracted, long run to the finish line. If the pace is quick enough, she can pull off the upset. If not, then she might finish off the board. The 12 to 1 odds are too good to pass up, however, which is why she makes it into my top three.

Mi Chiamano Mimi - - 2/1 morning line odds

She lost her last race over Hollywood Park’s cushion track as the 1.3 to 1 favorite by 1 ½ lengths to Evita Argentina, one of the most respected female horses on the Santa Anita grounds. There are no Evita Argentina’s in here and Mi Chiamano Mimi does go back from 7 furlongs in her last to this much better 6 furlong distance. She’s easily the class of the race but she’s stuck on the rail and often times the rail is dead on the Pro-Ride. That, and the fact that she goes off at less than 2 to 1 odds means that Mi Chiamano Mimi is an exotic horse to use at best in this.

Wagering Strategy

If Sleep Tight keeps her 7 to 2 odds, then she is the horse to bet to win and place in this race. I will also bet an exacta and trifecta box with Mi Chiamano Mimi, G.I. Betty and Sleep Tight.