Santa Anita: best Bet 1/7

Santa Anita Race 9

1 - Blue Tone

The San Gabriel is normally run on the turf, but this year the rain has moved the Grade II event to the main track. With the race now on dirt it opens the door for seasoned runner Blue Tone. This 8-year-old gelding has never run on the turf anyhow and shows the best speed figure of the field on dirt. Other runners have more class and earnings, but all of that has been on the turf - different story today. Blue Tone took off on this track back in October with a runaway victory in an optional claiming race under jockey Kent Desormeaux and the connections are looking for that same performance here with the move up to the Grade II level. Blue Tone should be on or near the lead, key on a muddy track, and cash in at a nice price as Saturday's best bet. 

Santa Anita: Best Bet 1/6

Santa Anita Race 4

1 - Bar Scene

Do not like taking a short price as the best bet of the day, but sometimes it cannot be denied. Bar Scene is by far the top play of the day. This 4-year-old filly enters holding the top speed figure and the best sprinting pedigree in the field. New trainer Phil Oviedo takes over, but jockey Martin Pedroza stays after a solid debut run, finishing second in a Maiden Special Weight event at Del Mar back in November. This filly has been freshened for the run and with the likes of Forest Camp in her bloodlines this 6F distance is perfect. She has a solid 5F :59 workout over the track Dec. 28 in preparation and projects to get a ground saving trip from the rail. Look for Pedroza to sit close to the front with a winning move turning for home. Bar Scene is the best bet on Friday's card. 

Santa Anita: Best Bet 12/31

Santa Anita Race 4

7 - Goodyearforroses

Jockey Corey Nakatani said he is looking at catching solid mounts on his return and this is one for trainer Richard Baltas. This 4-year-old filly enters with a number of solid works leading up to this race and the connections wouldn't be in this race if they couldn't win. Goodyearforroses not only has a perfect name for nearby Pasadena, but she should enjoy a solid trip in the Frankel for one of the best jockeys in Nakatani. Take the top connections in one of the best races to close out the year.

Santa Anita: Best Bet 12/30

Santa Anita Race 5

7 - Bad Ju Ju

Play the hot hand with Bad Ju Ju in the 12th running of The Kalookan Queen. Under new connections of trainer Peter Miller and jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. this 4-year-old filly has shown a passing gear with back-to-back off the pace victories, something not shown before, while moving up the class ladder. Bad Ju Ju should get a solid pace to run at in this 6.5F sprint and Miller shows a vote of confidence with another move up out of the claiming ranks. The streaking filly enters with the top last race speed figure and should run another winning race as our best bet on Friday's card. 

Santa Anita: Best Bet 12/29

Santa Anita Race 5

1 - Shehastheritestuff

in a wide open event, we are looking at getting a solid price with Shehastheritestuff. This 3-year-old filly powered home last time out, through slow opening fractions, to a clear victory by 5+ lengths. She showed another closing gear, after a little freshening, that makes her a clear threat to rundown a much faster expected pace today. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke knows this filly and love the inside post to save ground, while making the winning move down the stretch. Shehastheritestuff not only should get the trip, but she brings one of the top speed figures in the field from that win, making her our best bet on Thursday.

Santa Anita: Opening day play

Santa Anita Race 2

6 - Classic Ruler

Start the Santa Anita fall meet on a winning note with Classic Ruler. This 2-year-old colt should realish the 6F distance, while moving up in class to the $50K maiden claiming level. He enters off a solid fourth in debut and an even better placing last time out, finishing a clear second while producing one of the field's highest speed figures. Sire Tribal Rule produces solid sprinters in the family and this 2-year-old looks to get a solid stalking trip today on the stretch out behind He's All That (adding blinkers). Classic Ruler should continue his progression and find the winner's circle on Monday's opening day card.  

Del Mar: Closing Day Play

Del Mar Race 8

13 - With Honors

The juvenile fillies turf event brings a full field this year to the table, but With Honors stands above the 12 runners. The two-year-old filly ran the fastest 1M times of the field in her July debut and she should be able to improve on that in her second career start. With Honors has the pedigree power to love the turf and going long with Danzig and Street Cry in her family tree. Leading rider Flavien Prat stays on the mount and should be able to escape the outside post with her speed from the gate. With Honors is simply too classy for this field on paper and will look that way crossing the wire on closing day at Del Mar.

Del Mar: Best Bet 9/3

Del Mar Race 1

3 - Princess Coco

On a very tough Saturday card, the best bet of the day is found in the first race with Princess Coco. This filly should love the route game with A.P. Indy and Empire Maker in her family tree, as she makes her debut going long. Princess Coco has run two credible sprints that should have her set for her best with the Desormeaux brother (jockey Kent/trainer Keith) connections. This is not a stellar group of maidens, so it won't take much for the win here. Princess Coco, even with those so-so sprints, holds some of the top figures in the field as well as the top pedigree for the distance. Look for Princess Coco to break her maiden today at a nice price to get the day started. 

Del Mar: Best Bet 8/31

Del Mar Race 4

8 - Heat Me

Go with the hot hand today, Heat Me. This four-year-old filly has never been better after cruising to an easy victory last time out against $12.5K claimers. That win translated into her highest lifetime speed figure and the best last race figure of the field. Heat Me was claimed by solid trainer Mark Glatt, and shows three strong 4F moves since. Jockey Joe Talamo stays and should get a great trip from the outside post for the move up in class. Heat Me is the best bet on Wednesday's card. 

Del Mar: Best Bet 8/28

Del Mar Race 5

9 - Dreamy Gal

This two-year-old filly will prove much the best today. Dreamy Gal had trouble in her debut run, off-slow and steadied, but kept to task to finish a solid fourth. Jockey Tyler Baze and trainer Jeff Mullins return her at the same level and give her more ground to get going at 6F. With In Excess in her pedigree, Dreamy Gal should relish the extention and her quick 4F :48 work back on Aug. 21 says she is ready to breakthrough in start 2. Dreamy Gal isn't facing any monsters today and will power home as the best bet on the card.