Friday's Best Bet: Matriculate wants muddy track at Santa Anita Park

Friday’s second race from Santa Anita Park is an $8,000 claiming event for 4-year-olds and up dashing six and one-half furlongs on the main track (Post Time - 4:00 p.m. ET).

#5 MATRICULATE (7-2) exits an improved 3rd and might be able to move forward again in his third start after a layoff. All four of his wins were at Santa Anita including a pair at this distance. Tiago Pereira is 4-for-10 with Bill Spawr recently and the 7-year-old gelding is 2-for-3 with a head defeat on a wet track.

#6 Trapalanda (5-2) exits a big $6250k wire job and his new trainer Andrew Lerner is 3-for-11 at the current stand. Heriberto Figueroa sticks with the pace factor.

#7 Boy Howdy (2-1) missed by a nose in the same race Matriculate exits and Kristin Mulhall is 2-for-9 first after the claim. The early-pressing type drew well and Joel Rosario hops aboard. All three of his wins were at Santa Anita. 

Wagers:

#5 to win

Exacta 5/6-7

Exacta 6-7/5

Recent Best Bet Winners

Jan. 25 - STREAK OF LUCK ($6.60), Trifecta ($11.20)

Jan. 26 - S Y Sky/Queen Bee to You/Fiery Lady Trifecta ($124.45)