Welcome to Los Ponies Longshots! Each week, America’s Best Racing’s Southern California correspondent Jose Contreras – Los Ponies to those who follow him on Twitter – will provide three longshots at 6-to-1 odds or better on the morning line that he identifies as strong value bets. Contreras also will map out a betting strategy for how to play his selections and keep track of his return on investment (ROI).

Stop back each week if you love a longshot!

Saturday, Jan. 9, Race 1, Santa Anita

#1 Moon Full of Gold (6-1 ML): I like that she has shown some late kick in her first two starts when sprinting and now she is going to try the mile distance for the first time. She has been on a steady training schedule and her breeding suggests we might have not seen the best of her ability yet.

Strategy on $10 Budget - $1 exacta: 1 with 2,6,7,9,10 ($5)

$1 exacta: 2,6,7,9,10 with 1 ($5)

Strategy on $25 Budget - $10 win-place on Moon Full of Gold ($20)

$1 exacta: 1 with 2,6,7,9,10 ($5)

Strategy on $50 Budget - $1 trifecta: 1 with 2,6,7,9,10 with 2,6,7,9,10 ($20)

$1 trifecta: 2,6,7,9,10 with 1 with 2,6,7,9,10 ($20)

$10 win on Moon Full of Gold ($10)

Saturday, Jan. 9, Race 7, Santa Anita

#10 Little Jerry (8-1 ML): Little Jerry has been given some time off since October and has been working well for his return. Her trainer Richard Baltas is having a terrific start to the season and his barn is winning at over 40 percent this meet. Jockey Martin Pedroza has been aboard two of Little Jerry’s victories and I think he will get a good trip stalking the leaders with this outside post position.

Strategy on $10 Budget - $1 exacta: 10 with 2,3,5,6,9 ($5)

$1 exacta: 2,3,5,6,9 with 10 ($5)

Strategy on $25 Budget - $10 win-place on Little Jerry ($20)

$1 exacta: 10 with 2,3,5,6,9 ($5)

Strategy on $50 Budget - $1 trifecta: 10 with 2,3,5,6,9 with 2,3,5,6,9 ($20)

$1 trifecta: 2,3,5,6,9 with 10 with 2,3,5,6,9 ($20)

$10 win on Little Jerry ($10)

Sunday, Jan. 10, Race 5, Santa Anita

#8 Anthonysgotgame (10-1 ML): I like that he’s lightly raced compared to most of his competition in this field. He’s only making his fourth lifetime start and I think he has plenty of potential to improve. He’s adding blinkers and is only making his second start under trainer Mark Glatt. He returns to the distance of his only win and this outside post position should give him a clear running path early on in the race.

Strategy on $10 Budget - $1 exacta: 8 with 1,2,3,4,7 ($5)

$1 exacta: 1,2,3,4,7 with 8 ($5)

Strategy on $25 Budget - $10 win-place on Anthonysgotgame ($20)

$1 exacta: 8 with 1,2,3,4,7 ($5)

Strategy on $50 Budget - $1 trifecta: 8 with 1,2,3,4,7 with 1,2,3,4,7 ($20)

$1 trifecta: 1,2,3,4,7 with 8 with 1,2,3,4,7 ($20)

$10 win on Anthonysgotgame ($10)