Horse Racing picks for Santa Anita race track on Saturday, January 8: Uptown Funkenstein

4:00 pm Santa Anita (Race 2) – Soy Tapatio 9/5

Placed in maiden special weight races on each of his last two starts Doug O’Neill’s charge looks capable of breaking his maiden in this small field mile-and-sixteenth contest. Raced in fourth prior to being beaten by a couple of debutants over six-and-one-half-furlongs here over Christmas and the extra distance here should prove no issue for the four-year-old son of Not This Time having finished just over two lengths third in a mile event at Los Alamitos on his penultimate outing.

4:34 pm Santa Anita (Race 3) – Bacchanalia 3/1

The selection was an allowance optional claiming race winner at Gulfstream Park just under a year ago and while she’s proven a disappointment since but the daughter of Union Rags did manage a fourth in a similar event over a mile-and-one-sixteenth on turf at Belmont Park in June. Two down the field finishes followed but getting a marked drop in grade the six-year-old looks up to providing jockey Flavien Prat with a winner following a 1:02.40 five furlong breeze.

5:06 pm Santa Anita (Race 4) – Funkenstein 2/1

Mike Puype’s charge catches the eye here following a couple of second place finishes in maiden claiming events. The most recent of those came when beaten half-a-length having led into the straight over a mile at Los Alamitos last month. Had previously had to challenge four wide in a similar event at Del Mar in November and the son of Smiling Tiger is taken to break his maiden having performed well at this venue in the past.

6:06 pm Santa Anita (Race 6) – Girl Ranger 8/5

Impressed when getting the better of a number of more experienced rivals to score by five-and-a-quarter-lengths in a five-and-one-half-furlong maiden claiming contest at Del Mar when making her debut two months ago. Delivered a solid effort when fourth in a minor stakes contest upped to a mile at Los Alamitos subsequently. The shorter trip here is no issue and she looks up to registering a second win in three career starts switched to an allowance optional claimer.

7:06 pm Santa Anita (Race 8) – Under The Stars 8/5

Trainer Bob Baffert can complete a hat-trick of wins in this race with his sole representative having followed up a couple of third place finishes, including in a stakes event at Del Mar with a three length triumph in a six furlong maiden special weight at Los Alamitos last month. Is bred to appreciate the extra furlong here and having clocked 49.20 four a four furlong work here earlier this month she is taken to double her career tally.