Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Exactas at Santa Anita

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, March 17 at Santa Anita, including a pair of cold exactas.

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• New Players $200 Sign-Up Bonus: Open your TwinSpires.com account using the offer code BET200 to start earning a $200 bonus.
• 5x Points on Harness Racing: Receive 5x rewards points on all bets at harness tracks (excluding show bets) each Monday through Wednesday from Feb. 17 through March 26.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $160 Parx Feeder to 3/22 Louisiana Derby/Jeff Ruby Steaks KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Santa Anita: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on turf, 4:00 p.m. ET)

#4 Just a Graze (3-1) failed to factor after breaking slowly over this course, distance, and class level on Feb. 9, finishing fifth. But he was returning from a layoff and is eligible to move forward in his second start back for hot trainer Mike Pupye, a 24% winner at Santa Anita this meet.

#1 Miss Jo’s Curlin (7-5) can complete the exacta.

Selections

• #4 Just a Graze (3-1)
• #1 Miss Jo’s Curlin (7-5)
• #2 Canani (2-1)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 4 with 1

Santa Anita: Race 2: $50,000 Starter Allowance (six furlongs on dirt, 4:31 p.m. ET)

#1 El Maga (2-1) looks like a good fit for this class level. He closed ground against a slow pace to finish second by half a length against this caliber of competition on Feb. 7. 

El Maga has defeated morning-line favorite #5 Swift Stephan (9-5) twice in recent months, and we’ll count on El Maga to maintain his edge on Monday. A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #1 El Maga (2-1)
• #5 Swift Stephan (9-5)
• #3 A Kitten for Sue (3-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 El Maga

Santa Anita: Race 5: $20,000 Starter Optional Claiming (one mile on turf, 6:05 p.m. ET)

#3 J and M Express (3-2) launched a big rally to finish second over this course, distance, and class level on Jan. 20. She looms as a formidable win threat while sticking to the same conditions, especially after posting a fast five-furlong workout in :59 3/5 on March 7.

Let’s try betting J and M Express on top of an exacta using four-time turf winner #4 Shanghai Mist (15-1) for second place.

Selections

• #3 J and M Express (3-2)
• #4 Shanghai Mist (15-1)
• #5 Super Ellie (2-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 3 with 4

Good luck!