1/ST BET Horse Racing Predictions from Santa Anita:

We are excited to announce a renewed partnership with the fine folks and handicappers at 1/ST BET. Jeremy Plonk and Jeff Siegel will be sharing their expertise on a weekly basis to pass along some ponies that they like for races at various tracks around the country, including Santa Anita.

For this Thursday, January 16 article, Jeremy Plonk shares everything you need to know for the racing card for Santa Anita. Thursday will be a make-up day of racing at Santa Anita and kicks off what’s scheduled to be five consecutive days of action through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday.

Santa Anita | Race 1 | 3:00 pm ET

#3 Goodfella (5-1 morning line odds) represents trainer Michael McCarthy, who far and away has been the top Santa Anita trainer in recent years with long-distance turf maidens. He stretches this distance-pedigreed miler out for the first time locally. McCarthy boasts a 27% win rate, eight victories and a $1.80 ROI for every $1 bet since 2021 in Santa Anita turf maiden races at 1-1/8 miles or longer. McCarthy also has #6 My Hero in this spot with Prat aboard, but preference in form for Goodfella. Win bet #3. Small exacta box 3-6.

Santa Anita | Race 10 | 7:27 pm ET

#3 Bizzee Channel (9-2 morning line odds) makes his first West Coast start as he opens his 9-year-old season. Generally, I prefer the Midwest turfers to those in California at this middle-class level. Note how he’s run over the years on top-of-ground surfaces like Santa Anita. High-percentage Jonathan Thomas turns to ace grass pilot Frankie Dettori, and he’s drawn beautifully in post 3. Respect ever-consistent #6 Exultation as the chief threat. Win bet #3. Exacta box 3-6.