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 two or three longshots at 8-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, April 29

Santa Anita Park, Race 1, 4 p.m. ET

#2 Gee Street (8-1): She showed improvement in her most recent outing when posting a fourth-place finish while stretching out to two turns on the turf. I like her breeding and I think she has good enough speed to establish position early on heading into the first turn. Richard Baltas is off to a good start this season and I like that top rider Rafael Bejarano takes the call aboard this filly.

Strategy on $10 Budget

$2 Win on Gee Street ($2)

$2 Exacta: 2 with 5,9 ($4)

$1 Exacta: 1,5,9,10 with 2 ($4)

Strategy on $25 Budget

$5 Win on Gee Street ($5)

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

Strategy on $50 Budget

$2 Win on Gee Street ($2)

$1 Trifecta: 2 with 1,5,9,10 with 1,5,6,9,10 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 1,5,6,9,10 with 2 with 1,5,9,10 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 1,5,9,10 with 1,5,6,9,10 with 2 ($16)

Sunday, April 30

Santa Anita Park, Race 9, 8 p.m. ET

#10 Oregon (8-1): I thought he was a bit uncomfortable last time and should have finished third instead of fourth. Also, that was his first race since June and only his second lifetime start. I think there’s plenty of upside for this Mizzen Mast colt to keep improving as the races go on. I’m interested to see what he can do in his first try around two turns and I think we’ll get higher odds at post time.

Strategy on $10 Budget

$2 Win on Oregon ($2)

$2 Exacta: 10 with 3,4 ($4)

$1 Exacta: 1,3,4,9 with 10 ($4)

Strategy on $25 Budget

$5 Win on Oregon ($5)

$1 Trifecta: 3,10 with 3,4,10 with 1,2,3,4,9,10,11 ($20)

Strategy on $50 Budget  

$2 Win on Oregon ($2)

$1 Trifecta: 10 with 1,3,4,9 with 1,2,3,4,9 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 1,2,3,4,9 with 10 with 1,3,4,9 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 1,3,4,9 with 1,2,3,4,9 with 10 ($16)