Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 2/5/23

The Santa Anita Classic Meet continues following Saturday's big day of racing at the Kentucky Derby prep race Robert B. Lewis Stakes. On Sunday we have nine races at "The Great Race Place" with post time at 3:30 p.m. ET.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and monitor the weather and track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Santa Anita Betting

According to numberFire horse racing projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Loyal to a Fault and Smoove as Silk, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/5 and 3/1
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Race 4 is a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-old Cal-bred fillies sprinting 6 furlongs on the turf. Loyal to a Fault (6/5) on the rail is the top pick by numberFire's data. She had a pair of runner-up finishes late last year and will go to the lead, so she can hold up against this group.

Smoove as Silk (3/1) breaks next to the favorite and will try to catch her as numberFire's runner-up choice.

2. Avenue and Masteroffoxhounds, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 12/1 and 4/1
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Race 6 is the $200,000 Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes for older horses at 1 1/4 miles on the downhill turf course. The numberFire algorithm projects an upset with Avenue (12/1) holding value to win from the outside No. 10 post. Masteroffoxhounds (4/1) and The Grey Wizards (5/1) are projected to hit the board.

Avenue has hit the board in 4-of-5 starts since last summer, including third in November -- just a head behind The Grey Wizard.

Masteroffoxhounds has finished in the money in three straight Grade 2 races, including a wire-to-wire win over this course in October at this distance. Top turf jockey Umberto Rispoli rides again after another jockey finished third with him in December at a shorter distance.

3. Howbeit and Radical Right, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and 5/2
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Race 7 is the $200,000 Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes for older horses sprinting 6 furlongs. The numberFire data picks Howbeit (2/1) to win with Straight No Chaser (5/1) and Radical Right (5/2) as challengers to hit the board.

Howbeit won a Grade 2 sprint here in October by a nose and 57-year-old HOF jockey Mike Smith rides again. Radical Right comes in from the East Coast and has been working sharply for his return from a 2 1/2-month layoff. He's finished first or second in three straight races, but none of those were more than a minor stake. Top jockey Flavien Prat takes the saddle for EPO trainer Peter Miller.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.