Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 4-1 in the Blue Norther

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Dec. 29 at Santa Anita, including a 4-1 shot in the Blue Norther S.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• New Players $200 Sign-Up Bonus: Open your TwinSpires.com account using the offer code BET200 to start earning a $200 bonus.
• Woodbine Mohawk 15% Odds Boost: Receive a 15% bonus (up to $25 for the day) on your winning single-horse win wagers at Woodbine Mohawk every racing Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in December.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Parx Challenge
• $100 Parx Feeder to 1/3 Jerome/Smarty Jones KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Santa Anita: Race 3: Blue Norther S. (one mile on turf, 4:00 p.m. ET)

#3 Peanutbutterbombe (4-1) showed promise in her debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs over the Santa Anita turf course. She led all the way through sharp pace fractions to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths, earning a promising 83 Brisnet Speed rating.

Peanutbutterbombe’s pedigree suggests she’ll relish stretching out over one mile. Her full-sister Vive Veuve won the 7 1/2-furlong Sanibel Island S. and placed third in the 1 1/2-mile Dowager (G3).

Throw in the fact Peanutbutterbombe’s trainer, Phil D’Amato, wins at a 23% rate with horses running long for the first time, and Peanutbutterbombe is worthy of a win bet.

#6 Latte Luv (5-2) and #4 La Ville Lumiere (8-5), second and third in last month’s Jimmy Durante (G3), can round out the trifecta.

Selections

• #3 Peanutbutterbombe (4-1)
• #6 Latte Luv (5-2)
• #4 La Ville Lumiere (8-5)

Wagers

• $22 to win on #3 Peanutbutterbombe
• $4 Trifecta: 3 with 4,6 with 4,6 ($8)
  Total: $30

Santa Anita: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 4:30 p.m. ET)

#1 Lubie’s Music (5-2) debuted over this distance and class level at Del Mar last month. After rating in midfield, she rallied to finish second by a nose. In a crowded finish, Lubie’s Music snatched the runner-up spot by a nose over #8 Into the Hall (8-5).

This promising first start suggests Lubie’s Music has talent and upside. Let’s bet her to win and key her over Into the Hall in an exacta.

Selections

• #1 Lubie’s Music (5-2)
• #8 Into the Hall (8-5)
• #7 Convo (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #1 Lubie’s Music 
• $10 Exacta: 1 with 8
  Total: $30

Santa Anita: Race 9: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on turf, 7:00 p.m. ET)

#1 Mendel’s Tune (5-1) is an unraced son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Mendelssohn out of a mare by Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) conqueror War Chant. This suggests Mendel’s Tune will relish debuting over one mile on turf.

Mendel’s Tune enters off sharp workouts for trainer John Sadler, who wins at a respectable 12% rate with horses debuting on grass. Let’s try betting Mendel’s Tune to win and keying him over #4 Rio Grande (2-1) in an exacta.

Selections

• #1 Mendel’s Tune (5-1)
• #4 Rio Grande (2-1)
• #11 Medici (4-1)

Wagers

• $18 to win on #1 Mendel’s Tune
• $7 Exacta: 1 with 4
  Total: $25

Good luck!