2023 Sham Stakes Odds and Picks

January 1st marks the day that all thoroughbreds turn three and one of the first major graded races for three-year olds is the $100,000 Sham Stakes from Santa Anita Park. Running one mile on dirt, there are 11 colts probable for this event.

Horse Racing Betting Sites

2023 Sham Stakes Predictions

When: Saturday, January 7th 2023

Where: Santa Anita Park

There are a number of entries that are legitimate contenders for the race. However, National Treasure, Speed Boat Beach and Spun Intended are my top three choices in the 2023 Sham Stakes. All three thoroughbreds are under Bob Baffert as trainer.

Horse Racing Bet Types

Win: National Treasure

This three-year colt bred in Kentucky has raced for SF Racing, LLC and Madaket Stables to name a few of the owners. National Treasure finished first at Del Mar in the Maiden Special Weight race on Sept. 3rd in 2022. He went on the take second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4th at Keeneland.

Sired by Quality Road, National Treasure is well on the way to being one the top three-year old thoroughbreds to come out at West Coast tracks. His forte is the speed and power to run 1+ miles in close races.

What Is a Win Bet in Horse Racing?

Place: Speed Boat Beach

Another colt trained by Baffert, Speed Boat Beach was bred in Florida by Caperlane Farms. He won the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 4th as the juvenile. On Oct. 2nd, Speed Boat Beach finished first in the ungraded Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita in a five-furlong turf race in 0:55.25 over Helladic and Ah Jeez.

Either dirt or turf, the son of Bayern has finish first in three of his last four races in his two-year campaign. Speed Boat Beach makes his three-year debut on a West Coast track at Santa Anita Park.

What Is a Superfecta?

Show: Spun Intended

As a son of Hard Spun, the three-year colt has finished second at Santa Anita and first at Del Mar in a couple of 6½-furlong Maiden Special Weight sprints in the fall of 2022. Spun Intended was bred in Kentucky and has raced for Edge Racing and Muir Hut Stables, LLC.

Graduating up to a mile on dirt, Spun Intended’s siblings are Northern Dancer and Turkoman. He is bred to go the distance with the speed and power in his stride. His Horse Racing Nation rating is 6.73, second only to National Treasure.