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, Jan. 14

Santa Anita Park, Race 9, 7:30 p.m. ET

#4 Thirty Pepperonis (8-1): These connections saw enough in him to claim him for $80,000 last summer at Del Mar off a third-place finish. They tried him against tougher competition at a mile with no success. His best efforts have been sprinting and he appears to be at the correct level against this group. He did show some speed last time but steadied sharply going around the turn and lost all chance after that. This isn’t the strongest group of maidens and if he’s going to break his maiden, I think this is the time to do it.

Strategy on $10 Budget

$2 Win on Thirty Pepperonis ($2)

$1 Exacta: 4 with 2,5,7,9 ($4)

$1 Exacta: 2,5,7,9 with 4 ($4)

Strategy on $25 Budget

$10 Win on Thirty Pepperonis ($10)

$1 Exacta: 4 with 2,5,9 ($3)

$1 Trifecta: 4,9 with 4,5,9 with 2,4,5,7,9 ($12)

Strategy on $50 Budget

$2 Win on Thirty Pepperonis ($2)

$1 Trifecta: 4 with 2,5,7,9 with 2,5,7,8,9 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 2,5,7,9 with 4 with 2,5,7,8,9 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 2,5,7,9 with 2,5,7,8,9 with 4($16)

Sunday, Jan. 15

Santa Anita Park, Race 9, 7:30 p.m. ET

#2 G. A. Betting (15-1): I’ve been waiting for this gelding to get back to sprinting on the dirt ever since his big win at Del Mar last summer when posting a seven-length victory at this level. Since then, he’s raced on the grass and at a mile with no success. He’s got the speed to take control of the race early on in this field.                                                                                                                                                                                    

Strategy on $10 Budget

$2 Win on G. A. Betting ($2)

$1 Exacta: 2 with 5,8,9,10 ($4)

$1 Exacta: 5,8,9,10 with 2 ($4)

Strategy on $25 Budget

$10 Win on G. A. Betting ($10)

$1 Exacta: 2,8,9 with 1,2,5,8,9,10 ($15)

Strategy on $50 Budget  

$2 Win on G. A. Betting ($2)

$1 Trifecta: 2 with ALL with 5,8,9 ($24)

$1 Trifecta: ALL with 2 with 5,8,9 ($24)