Horse Racing picks for Santa Anita race track on Saturday, January 15: Straight Up winner

3:00 pm Santa Anita (Race 1) – Fore Flag 8/5

Has shown plenty of ability in this four starts to date finishing on the board in each of the last three of those. Was beaten just two-and-a-quarter-lengths when placing second in a mile maiden special weight on turf at Del Mar in November when last in action. Given a short break since then he comes here on the back of a couple of five furlong works on the main track here and can take the opener for trainer Mike McCarthy.

4:00 pm Santa Anita (Race 3) – Straight Up 4/5

Debuted with a fourth place finish at this venue in October but has done nothing wrong since delivering two victories with a success at Del Mar in a maiden special weight preceding a three-and-a-half-length victory when making all in the mile King Glorious Stakes, restricted to California-bred’s at Los Alamitos last month. Sets the standard on form and can make the perfect start to his three-year-old campaign with jockey Ricardo Gonzalez, on board for both victories taking the ride.

6:06 pm Santa Anita (Race 4) – Crash Corrigan 7/2

Lorenzo Ruiz’s charge has been drawn widest of all here over six furlongs but that shouldn’t inconvenience the Grazen gelding too much given he is relatively versatile tactics wise. The selection delivered a wide margin success when racing prominently over six furlongs at Los Alamitos at the start of last month while he was ridden with more restraint when finishing second in an allowance optional claimer over five-and-one-half-furlongs at the same venue subsequently. Can register a third career success.

6:36 pm Santa Anita (Race 8) – Warren’s Showtime 5/2

Successful in Grade 3 company at this venue last June the five-year-old mare delivered a good second place finish when beaten one-and-a-quarter-lengths having raced from of the pace in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes over a mile-and-one-sixteenth on dirt at Los Alamitos early last month. Clocked a solid 1:01.88 five furlong breeze here a week ago and is taken to register a victory back on turf having taken out the California Distaff Handicap over this track and trip in October.

7:36 pm Santa Anita (Race 10) – Professors’ Pride 5/2

A $60,000 purchase at the sales as a yearling the daughter of Bayern went unbeaten in two starts at two following up a length victory in a six furlong maiden special weight on the main track at Del Mar with an all the way victory by three lengths in the Soviet Problem Stakes over the same distance at Los Alamitos last month. Umberto Rispoli takes the ride for the first time and the selection can score on turf debut.