Los Ponies Longshots for Feb. 20-21
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Welcome to Los Ponies Longshots! Each week, America’s Best Racing’s Southern California correspondent Jose Contreras – Los Ponies to those who follow him on Twitter – will provide two or three longshots at 8-to-1 odds or better on the morning line that he identifies as strong value bets. Contreras also will map out a betting strategy for how to play his selections and keep track of his return on investment (ROI).
Stop back each week if you love a longshot!
Saturday, Race 5, Santa Anita Park, 5:30 p.m. ET
#2 Quorum of Joy (10-1): He is making his first start since September, when he finished fifth in a field of six in the I’m Smokin Stakes. I liked his debut win here at Santa Anita, where he showed some fight after dueling for the lead and kicking away late. He’s adding blinker for the first time and this trainer does a good job with his limited starters. I also like that his latest workout was the same distance as this race.
Strategy on $10 Budget
$1 exacta: 2 with 1,4,5,6,7 ($5)
$1 exacta: 1,4,5,6,7 with 2 ($5)
Strategy on $25 Budget
$10 win‐place on Quorum of Joy ($20)
$1 exacta: 2 with 1,4,5,6,7 ($5)
Strategy on $50 Budget
$1 trifecta: 2 with 1,4,5,6,7 with 1,4,5,6,7 ($20)
$1 trifecta: 1,4,5,6,7 with 2 with 1,4,5,6,7 ($20)
$10 win on Quorum of Joy ($10)
Sunday, Race 5, Santa Anita Park, 5:30 p.m. ET
#7 Red Button (8-1): His speed figures have been more consistent since arriving at this barn, and I like when this trainer brings horses back from a bit of a layoff. This gelding’s most recent win was here at Santa Anita at this same distance back in October. Since then, he has raced three more times but hasn’t been able to hit the board. I think he’s going to fire a good effort in his first race of 2016.
Strategy on $10 Budget
$1 exacta: 7 with 1,4,6,8,9 ($5)
$1 exacta: 1,4,6,8,9 with 7 ($5)
Strategy on $25 Budget
$10 win‐place on Red Button ($20)
$1 exacta: 7 with 1,4,6,8,9 ($5)
Strategy on $50 Budget
$1 trifecta: 7 with 1,4,6,8,9 with 1,4,6,8,9 ($20)
$1 trifecta: 1,4,6,8,9 with 7 with 1,4,6,8,9 ($20)
$10 win on Quorum of Joy ($10)
ROI Year to date: $1,105 wagered/$90 returned