Xpressbet writer Jeff Siegel offers his top plays for Friday.
Santa Anita Race No. 7 (7:05 p.m. ET/4:05 p.m. PT)
#5 Big Beauty (4-1)
Switches to her preferred surface in this downhill turf dash for first-level allowance state-bred fillies and mares and is best when held up early and allowed to produce a late run. A bullet recent dirt workout is noteworthy, so we’re expecting the daughter of Mr. Big to produce a major effort. At 4-1 on the morning line, this John Sadler-trained filly offers good value in the Win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
Santa Anita Race No. 9 (8:05 p.m. ET/5:05 p.m. PT)
#3 Americaredwhiteblu (5-2)
This 4-year-old colt just won a softer starter’s allowance race with a career top number by more than six lengths over the Del Mar main track, and if he can come close to that type of performance over the Santa Anita grass he’ll win right back. As a son of American Pharoah from the mare by Hard Spun, he should be even better on turf. Yes, he was unplaced in his only prior race on the sod, but that was in his debut sprinting at Fair Grounds, so we’re not going to worry about it. We’ll make him a Win play and rolling exotic single and hope to get close to his morning line of 5-2.
