Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks for Sunday, January 5, 2025

Below is a table for each race of the day. The table is ordered by our algorythmically calculated expected order of finish. Our program takes into account past performances, workout times, speed ratings, recency, and breeder/jockey data amoung other data points.

Using the “Expected” column, the lower number is better. When there is a clear lowest value, we like that horse best to win. In situations where many horses share low numbers, we like those horses equally well. If no horse is under 3, the results are less clear to us and bettors should examine the race more closely.

Using the “Value” column, we present the minimum payout we would recommend betting the particular horse. Look for higher-paying odds than those listed if you like that horse.

Scratches are notated and will be updated as available.

RACE NUMBER 1 (Maiden Claiming) – Maiden Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
2 2 Happyasaclam (IRE) 10.00 1 2-1
7 7 Rich of Joy 6.00 1.6 3-1
6 6 Fire Ban 4.00 2.1 4-1
3 3 Last Elizabethan 6.00 3.2 6-1
9 9 Day Dawning 2.50 3.5 7-1
5 5 Holly Goquickly (FR) 3.50 4.3 8-1
4 4 Nakota (IRE) 15.00 6.1 12-1
1 1 Parade Down Broad 12.00 7.3 14-1
8 8 Ghostess 20.00 9 17-1

RACE NUMBER 2 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
Grubauer 0 0-1
6 6 Grubauer 0.80 1 2-1
3 3 Clever Clover 6.00 2.4 5-1
7 7 Established 3.00 3.7 7-1
2 2 Melanie’s Tiger 10.00 4.3 8-1
4 4 Lmlooknformischief 8.00 4.9 9-1
5 5 Talk About Autism 15.00 6.2 12-1
1 1 Thirsty Friend 15.00 7 13-1

RACE NUMBER 3 (Claiming) – Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
Nameless 0 0-1
4 4 Shanagolden 3.50 1 2-1
5 5 Sugar Beets 3.00 3.2 6-1
1 1 Fantastic Dream 6.00 3.3 6-1
3 3 Beskar 4.00 3.5 7-1
7 7 Nameless 10.00 3.9 7-1
6 6 Ruler of Angels 10.00 4 8-1
10 10 Movietime 15.00 5 9-1
2 2 Pour On the Cole 20.00 5.9 11-1
8 8 Reef City 15.00 SCRATCH
9 9 Lord Wimborne (IRE) 8.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 4 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
7 7 Freedom’s Not Free 3.00 1 2-1
5 5 Tamino 2.50 1.1 2-1
6 6 Mythical Reel (IRE) 6.00 1.2 2-1
8 8 Unbreakable Trust 4.00 1.4 3-1
3 3 Flaubert 5.00 1.7 3-1
4 4 Grinnell 10.00 2.5 5-1
2 2 Newlands 20.00 4.1 8-1
1 1 Soul Music 30.00 5.4 10-1
9 9 Just Resilience 15.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 5 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
7 7 Safa 3.00 1 2-1
1 1 Wishtheyallcouldbe 2.50 2.6 5-1
5 5 Over Attracted 2.00 3.2 6-1
4 4 Roselee May 8.00 3.7 7-1
6 6 Dolce Ghost 15.00 4.3 8-1
2 2 Ragtime Rose 6.00 4.9 9-1
3 3 Becky’s Dream (FR) 10.00 7 13-1

RACE NUMBER 6 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
3 3 Cajun Gold 6.00 1 2-1
4 4 Soi Ngern 12.00 1.1 2-1
6 6 Supersonic Blue 5.00 1.5 3-1
2 2 Toughness 4.00 2.5 5-1
5 5 Springs 4.50 3.8 7-1
8 8 Pop Paul 15.00 4 7-1
10 10 Unique Power 3.00 4.1 8-1
1 1 General Jackson 20.00 4.2 8-1
7 7 Smiling Tizzy 30.00 4.9 9-1
9 9 Dirty Words 8.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 7 (Fasig-tipton Santa Ynez S.) – Fasig-tipton Santa Ynez S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
7 7 Silent Law 4.50 1 2-1
4 4 Practical Dream 10.00 1.3 2-1
5 5 Look Forward 2.00 1.4 3-1
8 8 Artisma 6.00 3.4 6-1
3 3 A. Z. Wildcat 2.50 3.9 7-1
6 6 Mawu 12.00 5.6 11-1
2 2 Howin 8.00 5.9 11-1
1 1 Polythene Pam 20.00 8 15-1

RACE NUMBER 8 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
2 2 Royal Charter (GB) 3.50 SCRATCH
4 4 Sareeha (IRE) 2.00 2.7 5-1
3 3 Excelerina (IRE) 5.00 3.1 6-1
5 5 Ruff Ride 4.00 3.3 6-1
1 1 Real Fire 6.00 3.3 6-1
7 7 Omnipontet (BRZ) 15.00 5.1 10-1
8 8 Ima Joker 8.00 5.6 11-1
6 6 Yuki (CHI) 30.00 8 15-1

RACE NUMBER 9 (Claiming) – Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Travel the Map 8.00 1 2-1
12 12 Constant Conflict 4.00 1.7 3-1
11 11 Teddy’s Triumph 4.50 3.1 6-1
13 13 Red On Sunday 5.00 3.9 7-1
3 3 Salsation 15.00 4.9 9-1
7 7 Formidable Threat 20.00 5.7 11-1
6 6 New York Dreams (GB) 15.00 6.2 12-1
5 5 Stan From Malibu 10.00 6.6 12-1
2 2 Littlebrotherjoey 20.00 7.7 15-1
1 1 Spiritist 12.00 10.8 20-1
4 4 Novinophobia 12.00 11.1 21-1
9 9 Running Tiger 12.00 11.5 22-1
10 10 Picking It Up 12.00 13 25-1

RACE NUMBER 10 (Starter Optional Claiming) – Starter Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
6 6 Baby Waylon 20.00 1 2-1
10 10 One Time Mark 3.50 2.2 4-1
3 3 Dealers Special 3.00 2.4 5-1
5 5 Presider 6.00 2.9 5-1
4 4 Big Juanito 5.00 3 6-1
9 9 Belmont Bill 12.00 3.3 6-1
7 7 Six Magpies (IRE) 20.00 4.5 9-1
8 8 Brave Blend 10.00 5.1 10-1
2 2 Gentlemen’s Club 6.00 5.8 11-1
11 11 Mongolian Altai 30.00 5.8 11-1
1 1 Bad to the Bones 15.00 7.6 14-1
13 13 Crazy Cavalier 10.00 SCRATCH
12 12 Sine Qua Non 30.00 SCRATCH

Picks are based on historical performance and match-up. Keep up to date on late scratches and other changes – those are not taken into consideration. Sports from the Basement provides no warranty on these suggestions and readers should make picks at their own risk.