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, June 17

Santa Anita Park, Race 5, 6:00 p.m. ET


#8 Big League (8-1): He posted a visually-impressive debut win at Del Mar last summer and followed that up with a good second in the Grade 2 Best Pal. Then came a pair of third-place finishes before a dull effort on the turf. He’s taking a drop in class and returns to the dirt as a first-time gelding. There is plenty of early speed in this field, so I’m looking for him to sit in a stalking trip from this post position.

Strategy on $10 Budget

$2 Win on Big League ($2)

$2 Exacta: 8 with 1,4 ($4)


$1 Exacta: 1,2,3,4 with 8 ($4)

Strategy on $25 Budget

$5 Win on Big League ($5)


$1 Trifecta: 4,8 with 1,4,8 with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8 ($20)

Strategy on $50 Budget


$2 Win on Big League ($2)


$1 Trifecta: 8 with 1,2,3,4 with 1,2,3,4,6 ($16)


$1 Trifecta: 1,2,3,4,6 with 8 with 1,2,3,4 ($16)


$1 Trifecta: 1,2,3,4 with 1,2,3,4,6 with 8 ($16)

Sunday, June 18

Santa Anita Park, Race 5, 6:00 p.m. ET


#5 Kid Charming (10-1): He moved forward off a troubled debut to get the maiden score last time out when rallying between horses in a game effort. I liked the progression he showed from his first to his second start, and I think he’s going to enjoy this longer distance. He’s been given plenty of time since that last race to regroup, and there’s a pair of maintenance works in preparation for this race.

Strategy on $10 Budget

$2 Win on Kid Charming ($2)

$2 Exacta: 5 with 7,8 ($4)
$1 Exacta: 1,6,7,8 with 1 ($4)

Strategy on $25 Budget

$5 Win on Kid Charming ($5)


$1 Trifecta: 5,8 with 5,7,8 with 1,2,3,5,6,7,8 ($20)

Strategy on $50 Budget


$2 Win on Kid Charming ($2)


$1 Trifecta: 5 with 1,6,7,8 with 1,2,6,7,8 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 1,2,6,7,8 with 5 with 1,6,7,8 ($16)

$1 Trifecta: 1,6,7,8 with 1,2,6,7,8 with 5 ($16)

ROI Year to date: $11,027 wagered/ $9,931.61 returned