Friday 1/30/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**ConleyPicks** · 01-29-2026, 10:00 PM

Scott Shapiro: Santa Anita Spot Plays | Friday, January 30, 2026

by Scott Shapiro

They are back at it Friday afternoon at the Great Race Place. The new week at Santa Anita Park kicks off with an 8-race slate that gets started at 3:30 pm ET / 12:30 pm PT. The card features a quartet of stakes races and a state-bred MSW event for 3YOs over the main track. Here are the horses I am most interested in on Friday in Arcadia.

Race 6:

The late Pick 3 kicks off with this open $25k claimer over the grass for older fillies and mares and I had a hard time getting past 5-2-ML favorite #1 Candy Bar. The daughter of Constitution takes a significant drop in class out of first-level allowance company for trainer Bob Hess Jr. The 6YO mare was a little keen early in that second start over the Santa Anita grass on December 28 and ended up tiring late at nearly 17-1. Whether jockey Tyler Baze opts to get aggressive and go right to the front or decides to let an outside rival go and sit just off, Candy Bar should be forward early allowing her to get the jump on those from off the pace. This feels like a great spot for the 3-time winner in search of her first local score.

Play: #1 Candy Bar (5-2 ML)

Race 7:

This 5.5-furlong dash for Cal-bred MSW foes over the main track kicks off the $5 late Double and instead of backing one of the underneath finishers in a similar spot on December 29, I will look to #6 Tate Batz. The Doug O’Neill trainee debuted in late November in a 6-furlong state-bred MSW event at Del Mar. The Pavel filly got hammered down to 6-5-favoritism, but was clearly second best to a first-time starter for the Andy Mathis barn that came from well out of it to take advantage of a contentious first half mile. O’Neill has had a strong meet thus far winning at over 20% with a $2.68 ROI and this filly showed some talent at first asking. A move forward is expected.

Play: #6 Tate Batz (9-2 ML)

Race 8:

The pace should be contentious at the very least in this starter allowance over the grass to close the Friday proceedings. Most who see the race shape that way will understandably flock to 9-5-ML favorite #6 Trusty Rusty. The Tapiture gelding moves back to the lawn after a win going one-mile over the Los Alamitos main track to conclude his 5YO season and has the right running style to take advantage of an early tussle. The problem is he is 0 for 6 over this course and just 1 for 8 overall on the sod making the price tough to swallow. I will pivot to #2 So I’m Told. The Square Eddie gelding drops out of an open $25k claimer dominated by Jimmy Blue Jeans twenty days ago. Trainer Martin Valenzuela. Jr. brings him back in a favorable spot quickly and gets a rider upgrade to Hector Berrios after a stalk and fade while wide at a big price earlier this month. Berrios should be able to relax this 7YO gelding in the pocket early. Hopefully, from there he can avoid getting caught in tight and make a strong run when they turn for home. He should certainly appreciate the decrease in competition.

Play: #2 So I’m Told (5-1 ML)

**ConleyPicks** · 01-29-2026, 10:02 PM

Frank Carulli: Tampa Bay Downs Pick 4 | Friday, January 30, 2026

by Frank Carulli

Imagine a late January racing card with sunny skies, an afternoon high of 68 degrees and no precipitation. But don’t let your imagination run off. That’s the forecast for Tampa Bay Downs this Friday,. And if the weatherman cooperates, the 50-cent Late Pick 4 could feature all double-digit sized fields. Here’s a closer look with a suggested $21 play:

TAM 6th race (3:05 p.m. EST) -- With a couple short-priced picks in the middle legs of the sequence, go deep in this wide-open $5,000 claiming race in hopes of triggering a decent Pick 4 payout. COALMINER’S KITTEN, first or second in 7 of 9 starts last year, broke through the gate and finished second in this spot in his first try at Tampa. He is the favorite but should be used on the ticket. The better-priced options include: BATL KING (7-2), who finished third in an open $6,250 claimer two back and runs for the cheapest tag of his career; WHITING FIELD (12-1), who gets in light-weighted and looks to rebound from a dull try for a barn in the midst of an 8-for-39 streak with the ‘second off 30-60 days’ angle; FEELTHEBEAT (15-1), who was taken off the rail while setting a solid pace before finishing 3-1/4 lengths behind Coalminer’s Kitten, at 7F two back; WILLTORUN (4-1), who is four months removed from a voided vet claim at the $12,500 level; FLOAT ON (6-1), who is 0-7 at the distance but has plenty of back-class to summon for a new trainer on a 21/5-4-6 run with claims; and RUSSIAN HAMMER (10-1), who was 9-wide and finished third behind Coalminer’s Kitten as the favorite.

TAM 7th race (3:35 p.m. EST) -- SIX FORTYFIVE pressed winning favorite Aegon Targaryen – a recent odds-on repeater with a 79 Beyer -- to the far turn before fading two starts ago. But the 5-year-old proved versatile with a last-to-first move while stepping up in class off the claim. He threw his head at the start and trailed on the backstretch as the pace slowed, but he negotiated traffic and exploded on the rail in mid-stretch to win. He is today’s solo play.

TAM 8th race (4:05 p.m. EST) -- SNOWYTE broke her maiden with Leon aboard off a similar three-month rest at Monmouth, then finished between three next-out winners in a six-figure allowance at Keeneland. WITS AND WAGERS can’t seem to get out of her own way at the break, rallying from far back for three consecutive third-place finishes at various Churchill Downs distances. She followed the move of the runaway winner last out in a race that timed 2/5 of a second slower than a $50,000 starter allowance for 2-year-old boys on the same card. Her trainer, Jose Gallegos, has three seconds and a third from five first-off-the-claims at Tampa in the last 13 months.

TAM 9th race (4:40 p.m. EST) -- UP FOR AN OSCAR is the horse to beat on paper. He just missed at this distance on the Aqueduct lawn with an 85 Beyer that towers over this field and he did it off a nine-month layoff. He added blinkers, gained 3-wide on the final turn from post 12 but came up empty in the stretch in a follow-up try. MORTAL LOCK also earned his top speed figure at this distance on the Aqueduct lawn, rallying for second behind A Bourbon For Toby, who reeled off five consecutive 80-plus speed figures in the MSW ranks and tested Grade 2 company along the way. Both runners get upgraded after they faced Cruise the Nile last month before he repeated with a sharp allowance score on Gulfstream Park’s synthetic track. JOBU gets a longshot spot on the ticket. He took money and showed speed first-out at Parx against an improving allowance-type winner, worked well at Tampa since that race and his dam, Our Cause, produced stakes-winning turf marathoner Summer Cause (2-7, $128k on turf).

Suggested 50-Cent Ticket

TAM 6th Race: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
TAM 7th Race: 6
TAM 8th Race: 6, 7
TAM 9th Race: 3, 4, 9

Cost: $21

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:47 AM

Gulfstream Park Hotlist - January 30

By Bob Ehalt and Matt Shifman

Hot List Key:

A : A preferred horse to watch B: Secondary horse to watch
*C: Went down 2 or more betting notches in the final 3 minutes and finished 1st through 3rd
*D: Went down 2 or more betting notches and finished 4^th or worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1st race – (2) Come On Poppi rallied for second at this level and should get a win here. (3) Decisive Maiara was third in that race and could be the main rival. (4) Bint Mischief is worth a look off the claim. (5) Bella Bello Banker will be better suited by turf. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-4-5.

3^rd race – (2) Noble Sky is way overdue for a maiden win and should get it here. (3) Step Slow seems fast enough to be the main rival. (6) Can’t Stop Munnings will appreciate a return to dirt. (7) Wheelhouse may perk up in a claimer. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-6-7.

5th race – (8) Nacho Problem was second and looks best off the Cox claim. (5) Dolce Vino had a rough trip last time and can bounce back here. (4) Fermi looked good in a debut win. (10) Lucky Esther might pose a late threat. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 4-5-8-10. Doubles: 4-5-8-10 with 2-4-6.

6th race – (2) Both Sides has a nice turn of speed and may lead throughout. (4) Smart Jenny missed by a neck and should be the top rival. (6) It’s Only Words fits nicely here. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-4-6.

9th race – (7) Golden Beach could shine in this spot. (2) Drama can create some excitement in this field. (1) Tululo posted a solid debut win. (3) The Package won her lone race on Tapeta. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-3-7.

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:48 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Equibase Special
PURCHASE

Equibase Special - Race 2	Leg 2 of the Tropical Turf Pick 3
Maiden Special • 7 1/2 Furlongs • Turf • Age 3 •CR: 87 • Purse: $84,000 • Post: 3:19P
GP - R7 - (RAIL AT 24 FEET). FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD. WEIGHT, 122 LBS. (PREFERENCE TO HORSES THAT HAVE NOT STARTED FOR LESS THAN $30,000 IN THEIR LAST 5 STARTS). (IF DEEMED INADVISABLE TO RUN THIS RACE OVER THE TURF COURSE, IT WILL BE RUN ON THE TAPETA COURSE AT ONE MILE AND SEVENTY YARDS)

Contenders				Race Analysis
P#	Horse	Morn Line	Accept Odds	Race Type: Lone Trailer. LION LAKE (IRE) is the Lone Trailer of the race. * KEY ANGLES * RULES AND REGS: A first time starter with a trainer that has a return on investment with first time starters of at least +50 (minimum 10 starts). LION LAKE ( IRE): Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. ELENIQUE: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. PAN PAN: Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. MIA FAMILIA: Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating.
1	RULES AND REGS	10/1	6/1
8	LION LAKE (IRE)	3/1	6/1
2	ELENIQUE	5/2	6/1
6	PAN PAN	6/1	9/1
10	MIA FAMILIA	8/1	10/1

P#	Horse (In Running Style Order)	Post	Morn Line	Running Style	Good Class	Good Speed	Early Figure	Finish Figure	Platinum Figure
3	KEEPSAKE BOX	3	8/1	Front-runner	0	0	65.4	59.7	49.7
6	PAN PAN	6	6/1	Front-runner	79	77	62.0	50.0	41.0
10	MIA FAMILIA	10	8/1	Front-runner	82	81	0.0	0.0	0.0
7	ACADEMIA	7	6/1	Stalker	77	70	59.1	61.0	50.0
2	ELENIQUE	2	5/2	Stalker	80	82	58.8	76.8	71.8
4	SHOT AT PERFECTION	4	20/1	Alternator/Stalker	79	75	50.0	62.0	51.5
8	LION LAKE (IRE)	8	3/1	Trailer	82	80	58.8	72.0	67.0
9	TRILL	9	30/1	Alternator/Non-contender	0	0	55.0	50.2	35.7

Unknown Running Style: RULES AND REGS (10/1) [Jockey: Castellano Javier - Trainer: Wilkes Ian R], SORELLA BELLA (12/1) [Jockey: Saez Luis - Trainer: D'Angelo Jose F].

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:48 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Santa Anita Park
PURCHASE

Santa Anita Park - Race 5	Win ($2) / Place ($2) / Show ($2) / Exacta ($1) / Trifecta ($1) Superfecta ($.10) / RollingDouble ($2) / Rolling Pick 3 ($1) Late Pick 4 ($.50)
Claiming $10,000 • 6 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 4 and up • CR: 81 • Purse: $18,000 • Post: 2:40P
FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. WEIGHT, 124 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $10,000.

Contenders				Race Analysis
P#	Horse	Morn Line	Accept Odds	Race Type: Dominant Front-runner. ALOHA DREAMIN is the Dominant Front-runner of the race. * KEY ANGLES * ALOHA DREAMIN: Horse's win percentage at today's distance(sprint or route)/surface (dirt or turf) is at least 50. Horse has the highest Track Master Power Rating. Horse has the highest average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface.
2	ALOHA DREAMIN	1/1	2/1

P#	Horse (In Running Style Order)	Post	Morn Line	Running Style	Good Class	Good Speed	Early Figure	Finish Figure	Platinum Figure
2	ALOHA DREAMIN	2	1/1	Front-runner	74	76	76.8	73.0	70.5
1	MORGAN'S BLUFF	1	3/1	Alternator/Stalker	86	79	57.8	23.7	17.7
5	BOOSTER CLUB	5	7/2	Trailer	73	72	48.3	68.3	63.3
4	SELSAE	4	10/1	Trailer	79	72	39.6	67.8	61.3
6	WALK'N THE BEACH	6	5/1	Alternator/Non-contender	72	70	70.0	63.0	53.0
3	FAITHFUL TRUTH	3	30/1	Alternator/Non-contender	0	0	33.0	49.2	37.7

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:48 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Delta Downs

PURCHASE
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 9 - Maiden Claiming - 5.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $11000 Class Rating: 63

FOR MAIDENS, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. WEIGHT, 124 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
	# 4 HE'S READY TO WIN 7/2
# 8 SENOR SMOKE 2/1
# 9 MR. BRAD'S COWBOY 6/1

I think HE'S READY TO WIN is a quite good choice. Is tough not to consider based on speed figures which have been decent - 54 avg - of late. He has a good opportunity in this race as trainer, Brinkman, has sharp win clip with horses going this distance. Has respectable early lick and will most likely fare strongly versus this field. SENOR SMOKE - Trainer boasts very strong win figs at this distance and surface. Delcid has been on fire the last month, winning at a nifty 36 percent rate.

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:49 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

PURCHASE

Sam Houston - Race #6 - Post: 8:40pm - Maiden Claiming - 5.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $11,000 Class Rating: 51

Rating:

#5 JUDY GEMSTONE (ML=8/1)
#1 CLEARLY GORGEOUS (ML=8/1)
#8 QUIXX (ML=3/1)

JUDY GEMSTONE - Ran against 'open' company in the last race, in with state breds today. Looking at today's class figure, this horse is encountering an easier bunch than last time out at Delta Downs. CLEARLY GORGEOUS - State bred races are generally easier than 'open' company, and this filly's move into the 'state bred' class today should make her tough in here. Taking a class drop in class rating points from her Jun 19th race at Evangeline Downs. Based on that data, I will give this thoroughbred the edge. QUIXX - Have to give this filly a good shot. Ran a solid effort last time out within the last month. The 55 last race speed fig looks good in black and white. This filly should improve after adding Lasix in the last race and getting it again today.

Vulnerable Contenders: #9 SWIFTLIKETAYLOR (ML=5/2), #3 DIXIE'S HEART (ML=4/1), #7 UPTOWN JIVE (ML=6/1),

SWIFTLIKETAYLOR - The Brain always warns me to keep away from thoroughbreds in short distance affairs that haven't finished in the money in short distance contests lately. DIXIE'S HEART - This filly hasn't had any recent good fortune in sprint affairs. I find it hard to invest in her in this contest. UPTOWN JIVE - I cannot play this frequent non-winner. Gets the job executed occasionally. Difficult to play this racer this time out. Make her show you something in a sprint contest before you play her in a race of 5 1/2 furlongs. The speed fig last time out doesn't fit very well in this race when I look at the class figure of today's event. Mark this thoroughbred as a questionable challenger.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:	Bet on #5 JUDY GEMSTONE to win if we can get at least 7/2 odds
EXACTA WAGERS:	Box [1,5,8]
TRIFECTA WAGERS:	Box [1,5,8] Total Cost: $6
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:	Pass

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:49 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Fair Grounds

PURCHASE
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 3 - Maiden Claiming - 8.0f on the Turf. Purse: $22000 Class Rating: 80

FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD. WEIGHT, 120 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $30,000

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
	# 3 CLAWLESS BRIT 6/1
# 9 STRESS TEST 4/1
# 2 HONOR AZTECA 6/1

I've got to go with CLAWLESS BRIT. Has performed solidly recently in route races, posting a nifty 78 avg Equibase speed fig. Make a note that this horse runs with second time Lasix today. Looks decent to be up near the front end at the first call. STRESS TEST - Lopez and Sharp are a strong pair for gains. Horses who have been prepared to race at this distance and surface by Sharp have shown strong results lately. HONOR AZTECA - Earning some good dough in turf route contests. Has put up formidable Equibase Speed Figures in turf route races in the past.

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:50 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

PURCHASE

Tampa Bay Downs - Race #7 - Post: 3:35pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $23,800 Class Rating: 86

Rating:

#1 MAGIC HEART (ML=3/1)
#7 LATIN FORCE (ML=20/1)

MAGIC HEART - That last morning drill tells me this gelding is set for a top performance. Meneses and Schuh perform well when they work together. Hard to beat a win percentage of 31. This gelding is in good form. Ran second on Jan 9th. This mount obviously likes the conditions for today's race. Has recorded the highest Equibase speed figure on the grass at the distance and surface. This thoroughbred may have too much power on the grass for the rest of the field. Coming home, he could put these away. LATIN FORCE - This race horse should be motoring down the homestretch.

Vulnerable Contenders: #6 SIX FORTYFIVE (ML=5/2), #4 SPECIALAGENTJONSON (ML=3/1), #5 OUTTAWATERBURY (ML=6/1),

SIX FORTYFIVE - This favorite hasn't been to the track in awhile. No workouts since last race. SPECIALAGENTJONSON - You always think this horse has a shot to win, but he comes up short regularly. Equibase speed figures of 90/84/81 are going in the wrong direction. OUTTAWATERBURY - Difficult to take this mount at the price after the finish position (tenth) in the last race.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Hal - MAGIC HEART - Coming off his last race with the top speed figure of 85 at Tampa Bay Downs. He is the gelding to beat today.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:	Play #1 MAGIC HEART to win if you can get odds of 3/2 or more
EXACTA WAGERS:	Box [1,7]
TRIFECTA WAGERS:	Skip
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:	Skip
SUPER HIGH 5 WAGERS:	None

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:51 AM

Handicapped by TrackMaster Greg at The Meadows

P#	PP	HORSE NAME	M/L	DRIVER - WIN%	POINTS
RACE 8
5	5	COALFORD BET ALINE	2/1	Merriman, Aaron - 19	480.11
7	7	LAST POUND	7/2	Palone, Dave - 27	475.07
4	4	WIN NOT LOU	5/1	Wrenn, Ronnie Jr - 24	457.66
1	1	MAJOR KEY	9/1	Irvine, Justin - 10	436.28
3	3	LUCKS ON TIME	7/2	Jenson, Brady - 13	433.22
2	2	OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE	20/1	Indof, Jeremy - 11	430.71
6	6	ALWAYS A WARRIOR	15/1	Walters, Justin - 6	424.30
8	8	HOMESTRETCH WES	20/1	Brown, Brady - 8	388.75

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:51 AM

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Woodbine Mohawk Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 3 - Post: 7:13 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 63 - Purse:$18000 - FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 RACE

CONSORTIUM CHOICES
	# 6 TROPICAL CYCLONE 5/2
# 7 BEAUTY WISH 3/1
# 2 CAPTAIN SASSY 4/1

Feel pretty confident putting some profits down on TROPICAL CYCLONE. Has very good speed ratings and clearly has to be considered for a play in this event. This filly has been battling versus some of the most competitive company in this field of starters recently. This solid standardbred achieved a really good TrackMaster SR in last race. Looks fresh to come right back. BEAUTY WISH - Has the look of a profitable play, averaging a nifty 65 TrackMaster speed fig. Had one of the most competitive speed figures of the pack in her last competition. Must use in your plays. CAPTAIN SASSY - The handicapping team can't help but give the nod to this entrant because the internal pace figures fit well here at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:52 AM

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Yonkers Raceway

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 9 - Post: 9:25 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 90 - Purse:$35000 - F& M INVITATIONAL POST POSITIONS: 1-4 DRAWN POST POSITIONS 5-7 ASSIGNED

CONSORTIUM CHOICES
	# 7 AARDIE B MIKI N 9/5
# 4 SILK CLOUD A 5/1
# 1 FRONT PAGE STORY 8/1

Hey, listen up! AARDIE B MIKI N is the smart wager if you like to win. Has a huge shot in this one, if she can race to her back racing class. Could more than likely best this group of animals given the 94 speed rating recorded in her last race. This trainer, and the driver Bartlett, go together like peaches and cream. Their results together are amazing. SILK CLOUD A - When starting from the 4 hole, an above average win percentage has resulted. Exhibits the look of a profitable play, averaging a nifty 91 speed rating. FRONT PAGE STORY - Pace makes the race is a favorite saying of this panel of smart guys. Pace numbers here point to a very promising play. Chances are greatly increased for interesting entrants beginning from the 1 hole at Yonkers Raceway.

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:53 AM

Free play from Mike Wynn

Free Pick: Golden St Pk over Detroit

**ConleyPicks** · 01-30-2026, 05:53 AM

Free play from Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR FRIDAY: WRIGHT ST -2 over Wis-Milwaukee

Friday 1/30/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Friday 1/30/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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