Horse owner, breeder and HRTV analyst Jeff Siegel also happens to be Southern California's premier handicapper. Check his blog each day before you play!
Handicapping, in short, refers to analyzing the race to come up with best predicted outcome, or pick. There are many angles when it comes to picking a winner. Using some of the help from the professional handicappers below, you can determine your own angle on placing a bet. For more information on how to bet or wager, click here.
A good 10-race Saturday program offers plenty of high quality racing and several enticing rolling exotic opportunities.
Bonita Star takes a significant class drop in the first race but still remains above her claim level. She’s a solid fit on numbers, knows how to win races and switches to Bejarano. We’ll put her on top but also include Melanistic, triple-jumped in class by new connections following a highly-rated bottom-rung win. She should draft into a nice pace prompting position.
The Thursday program ushers in a five day race week, culminating with a special racing on Monday, President’s day.
Hodge exits a hot race, shortens up a furlong and looks like the controlling speed in today’s first race. Talamo rides him back and the Machowsky-trained gelding will be tough in a weak affair. Time to Doubledown will be bearing down in the lane and is the one to fear most. He’s a fit on figures and goes from the rail to the outside. Both should be used in rolling exotic play; we’ll give a very slight edge to Hodge.
