All is not lost, of course. There are many ways of creating “value” at the horse racing track besides betting a horse to win. I like to play a straight exacta under these circumstances. I’m going to try and do that, find value, in Horse Racing 7 at Santa Anita Park on Thursday.

Santa Anita Park – Horse Racing 7 (7:07 pm EST)

Optional Claiming $40,000

For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward Which Have Never Won $10,000
Other Than Maiden, Claiming or Starter or Which Have Never Won Two Horse Races or
Optional Claiming Price of $40,000

Underground: 5/2 morning line Horse Racing betting odds

With the exception of Classy Attraction, Underground is the only speed in this horse racing. The horse runs for superstar trainer Bob Baffert off of a two month layoff. It’s a good sign for Underground because Baffert is 22% in the win column with his 46 to 90 days away runners. He’s also winning at a 31% clip at the current meet. Underground is coming off of two straight horse races in the slop. The return to an all weather surface should really help this horse. Breaking outside of Classy Attraction, and being able to track that one, will help as well.

Classy Attraction: 8/1 morning line odds

The Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita has been favoring speed this meet. Classy Attraction just isn’t as good as Underground, but that doesn’t mean it won’t do a good job in this horse racing. There just isn’t a lot of other speed in here. So, Classy Attraction, who can also rate, should be in a good position throughout this horse racing. Trainer Silverio Martinez doesn’t saddle a lot of winners. That’s okay because Classy Attraction should pay a nice place mutual given his morning line odds.

Via Veneto: 5/1 morning line odds

Bob Baffert’s other horse in this horse racing gets Garrett Gomez to ride. That’s a huge, huge plus. Via Veneto also can track behind Classy Attraction and Underground and make a nice run at the top of the stretch. That’s another good sign. What isn’t a good sign is the fact that Via Veneto hasn’t really improved that much from one horse racing to another. Via Veneto’s speed ratings have stayed stagnant since its first lifetime horse racing.

Wagering Strategy

Underground should prove exceptionally difficult to run down. I will bet him to win big. I will also play a nice sized exacta with Underground over Classy Attraction and Via Veneto.

Gusty winds and a heavy dose of rain forced Aqueduct to cancel on Wednesday. Horse-players looking for action could not find any at Turfway Park or Hawthorne either, and Beulah Park canceled after running three horse races.

The rain will be gone at the Big A for Thursday, but the forecast still calls for blustery conditions.

I am hoping we get the card in today, because our Late Pick 3 play could send us into the holiday in good shape if we can hit it.

We have five horses in the three horse race sequence at odds of 8/1 or higher, which could pad our bankroll handsomely if we can get a couple of them home first.

Today’s Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Horse Race 5 Clm $10,000 (2:20 ET)

• 6 Boss Tiffany 2/1
• 8 Carmen Camacho 12/1
• 9 Crazy Thing 3/1
• 10 Holy Trouble 7/2

Analysis: #6 Boss Tiffany stalked the early pace and finished evenly for fourth against $35,000 claimers, beaten 1 1/2 lengths for the top spot. The mare takes a stiff class drop here in for $10,000 and his four previous speed figs are a good fit at this level. The barn claimed him for $30,000, has won about $70,000 with him, so the class drop here does not look very alarming to me.

Carmen Camacho invades from Finger Lakes where the filly has won 3 of her last 4 starts, all in restricted company. Last out she beat state breds in allowance company and the effort was flattered when the runner up Sweet Prime came back to beat state bred allowance foes on Nov. 13. The filly owns solid early and mid pace numbers and could stick around for a share here at a decent price for a sharp barn.

Wagering

• WIN: #6 to win at 9/5 or better.
• EX: 6,8 / 6,8,9,10
• TRI: 6,8 / 6,8,9,10 / 2,6,8,9,10

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

Starting in horse race 7: $1: 1,6,8,10 / 1,3 / 4,6,12 = $24

AQU Horse Race 7 Clm $12,500 (3:16 ET)

• #6 Triple Honor
• #8 Gimmearoutine
• #10 Neverbeendancin
• #1 Volos

Triple Honor was off next to last, came with a good run up the inside to take over the lead in the stretch and could not hold off the winner late. The gelding caught a main track that was playing to inside speed that day. The cut back to six furlongs should suit and although he steps into open company here, he is in the best form of his career at the moment for a low profile outfit.

#8 Gimmearoutine is returning off a three month break, last out making a good late rally to beat $12,500 non winners of a horse race in six months. The gelding was claimed out of the horse race by the Barbara barn that is showing a 1 for 9 mark first off the claim. The gelding is a three time winner on the inner and has beaten better than these. Decent value if this guy goes off near the 8/1 ML.

AQU Horse Race 8 OClm $50,000 N2X (3:44 ET)

• #3 Saarlight
• #1 Salt Water Reign

#3 Saarlight was scratched out of a stake o Dec. 5 and lands here in a easier spot facing Alw-2 optional claimers in her first start off a six month break. This gal showed some serious promise by passing her first allowance condition with a 101 Beyer in just her third career start. She has worked quickly for her return for the McLaughlin barn that is solid off the bench, top assistant Magnunson the named trainer.

#1 Salt Water Reign is making her first start since July for the Klesaris barn that is 21% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. The mare has done most of her best running on the inner where she has won 4 of 8 starts. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and has run okay off the bench in the past. She fits here with her best and the 5/1 ML looks fair enough.

AQU Horse Race 9 Clm $15,000 B (4:12 ET)

• #4 Her Latest Flame
• #6 Gold Close to Home
• #12 Golden Guska

#4 Her Latest Flame pressed the early pace and weakened to finish fourth last out versus similar company going seven furlongs. It was his first go on a fast track since July, catching off tracks in six straight starts. I thought we would see something from him and didn’t, but let’s give him one more look here as he makes his second start since Bruce Brown took over the training duties.

#6 Gold Close to Home was up close to the pace and then faded to finish eighth last out trying to get a mile. The cut back in distance here should suit and I like the addition of blinkers to the mix as the gelding makes his third start of his current form cycle. Note the crafty Guillo barn is 37% winners (with a +ROI) when adding the hood.

Price Plays From Aqueduct:
These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

• Horse Race 1: #6 Ten Carrot Nikki 15/1
• Horse Race 5: #8 Carmen Camacho 12/1
• Horse Race 6: #5 Foofs Melody 10/1
• Horse Race 6: #12 Sweetheartts Kiss 10/1
• Horse Race 7: #6 Triple Honor 8/1
• Horse Race 7: #8 Gimmearoutine 8/1
• Horse Race 7: #1 Volos 10/1
• Horse Race 8: #9 Star Over Malibu 10/1
• Horse Race 9: #4 Her Latest Flame 12/1
• Horse Race 9: #6 Gold Close to Home 15/1

Let’s take a look at Horse Race 6 at Keeneland on Saturday.

Keeneland – Horse Race 6

$56,000 Allowance

For Three Year Olds and Upward Which Have Never Won a Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Starter or State Bred on the Turf.

1 mile turf

• Mutadda 4/1 morning line odds

Trainer Tom Amoss hasn’t been having as good of a Keeneland meet as most gamblers expect of him, but Mutadda could help to turn that around. The son of Muktaddim should relish the stretch out to 1 mile on the turf. Amoss is very good with shippers and this one comes in from Mountaineer. He’s also 26% dirt to turf and 25% second time off of a layoff. There’s a lot to like with this horse.

• Mr. Mischief 8/1 morning line odds

This son of Stormy Atlantic is coming off of a very nice win at 1 1/16th miles on Arlington Park’s turf course. Mr. Mischief is 4-3-1 out of 13 lifetime horse races over the turf and has enough speed to stay close in this race. He could end up as a seriously tough overlay to look past if his odds drift past 8 to 1. He’s got a good shot in this at a more than fair price.

• Dubious Miss 6/5 morning line odds

The 5 year old gelding just finished second to Furthest Land in his last, the Grade II Kentucky Cup Classic. That horse race was on Polytrack. This race is on the turf. Trainer Paul McGee is only 9% with all weather to turf movers. Dubious Miss is the obvious class of this race and should win this going away but the odds aren’t justified.

Wagering Strategy

I like Mutadda and will bet him to win and place. I will play an exacta and trifecta box with Mutadda, Mr. Mischief and Dubious Miss.