American Horse Racing Betting

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12:01 Santa Anita: Shoemaker Mile - Grade 1 (3yo+) (Turf) Really good mile race on the Santa Anita turf tonight. Seven go to post in the $400.000 Shoemaker Mile, which will be contested at Santa Anita for the first time after the demolishing of Hollywood Park. Last years winner Obviously tries to defend his crown today and he comes into this race in great nick, having won a Grade 3 contest over course and distance last month. A multiple Grade winner, he's the short 15/8 favourite and goes from pole position in barrier one. He is expected to face some stiff competition for the lead though and that will make life much more difficult today. Which says a strong pace is expected, very much so because 2nd favourite Winning Prize is one who usually goes from the front too. He has arguably the best form to offer, as he won the G1 mile Frank E. Kilroe Mile over CD back in March on his latest start in pretty impressive fashion. He'll be battling with Obviously for the lead, so should lightly raced longshot Pulpit's Express, who seems out of depth in this field though. That says Some fierce competition for the lead is likely and therefore a quick race should be providing the chance for closers to feature strongly in the finish. Well fancied Jack Milton is probably the most interesting of the bunch that likes to race off the pace. Still generally lightly raced, he finished only once out of the money in seven career starts and also stays a bit further than a mile. He's been placed in both the G1 Secretariat Stakes and G1 Jamaica Handicap last year and made a winning seasonal reappearance at Belmont last month over 1m when he was stone last for three quarters of the race, just to improve rapidly around the home turn and to win in impressive style the Grade 3 Poker Stakes eventually. If he can make similar headway at the slightly different Santa Anita track, he must have a big chance as he'll relish the likely fast pace. Summer Front is another one who will be suited by a quick pace as he usually tracks the prominent runners and stays a bit further too. However now a five year old, there are secrets about him any more and while he should be competitive, he mike just be short of what is required to win a race of this class in such a strong field. Silentio had no chance against Obviously lto and it's hard to fancy him in this. Verdict: The still improving Jack Milton might the one to capitalize on the likely strong pace, if he can make his move at the right time to be not too far off when it matters as Santa Anita's turf track is rather unforgiving in that sense. But the way he quickened around the home bend lto was impressive enough to suggest he has all the right tools to win this. --- Jack Milton @ 4/1 William Hill

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Santa Anita: Vanity Stakes - Grade 1 12:30 Santa Anita: Vanity Stakes - Grade 1 (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) Intriguing contest for the girls at Santa Anita over 9f with quality horses in the line up. Let Faith Arise heads the market together with Grace Hall at 11/4. Let Faith Arise loves it here around Santa Anita, finished runner-up in two Grade 2 contests and won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes here earlier this year. She clashes with Iotapa again today, which she met on two occasions this year already. For the first time in the G2 Santa Maria Stakes - that day Iotapa got the better thanks to a resolute front-running performance. The second time they met in the G1 Santa Margarita Stakes, when Let Faith Arise had the run of the race and won comfortable, wile Iotapa finished 2nd. Who will hold the upper hand today? Let Faith Arise has to carry significantly more weight today, while the last times these two met on level weights. That should give Iotapa a clear advantage. The 4yo filly also loves it here around Santa Anita and the return to 9 furlongs should see her in much better light than when last seen over 7f at Churchill Downs. Lightly raced Scherzinger should go close if she can handle the new trip. She steps up from 7 to 9f, so races around two turns for the first time. On pedigree she has every chance to stay. She beat Iotapa earlier this year but was found out in a Grade 1 last time. The new distance has to bring out more improvement to see her being able to challenge the two former named fillies. Grace Hall was promising on her first run in well over a year last month when she finished a fine 2nd in a tight finish. This is more dificult today though and it's not clear if she will ever be able to find back to her fine 3yo form as she didn't have too many runs in the last two years due to injuries and one has to be cautious today. This is deeper and more difficult then her comeback run and she will need to improve significantly from that to win in this field in my mind. The short 11/4 offered seem harsh. On the other hand she has obviously class and if she could find back to past form, she has a fine chance, but only if... Lightly raced Magic Union must be considered with Castellano on board. The trainer likes her allot, however she lacks the strong form of some others. From a poor Southwell maiden into Grade 1 company in the US. That is the story of former UK based Yahilwa. She finished a strong 2nd behind Let Faith Arise in a G3 last month, the first good form she can offer since relocating to the US. Hard to see her winning this, but if she can build on that performance, she has a chance to finish in the money. Longshot Irish Presence is hard to fancy on pure form. It would be a major shock to see her going close in this field. Verdict: This should be between Iotapa and Let Faith Arise. The two promising fillies fought it out twice this year already, it's one all, so who will win it this time? I fancy Iotapa simply based on the fact that she recieves a good deal of weight from LFA and that could easily make the difference in a tight finish, as on paper there isn't an awful lot between these two fillies. --- Iotapa @ 4/1 William Hill