2021 American Pharoah Stakes morning line odds, picks: SportsLine horse racing writer handicaps Friday's race at Santa Anita

Some of the West Coast's best 2-year-old colts will try to earn a spot in next month's Breeders' Cup Juvenile when they leave the starting gate in the 2021 American Pharoah Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. The Bob Baffert-trained Corniche is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the American Pharoah Stakes odds. Post time is 7:29 p.m. ET.

Before making any American Pharoah Stakes picks, you'll want to hear what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010. In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.

Handicapping the American Pharoah Stakes begins with the Baffert runners. The Hall of Fame trainer has entered three colts in the race -- Corniche (6-5), Rockefeller (3-1) and Flying Drummer (10-1). Corniche has been made the favorite for a reason. In his only race thus far, he won by more than four lengths and earned an enormous Beyer Speed Figure of 98, the highest given to a 2-year-old this year.

Corniche has drawn the rail and, with a clean break, is likely to set the early pace. There are other speed horses in the field, including Flying Drummer, Joker Boy and Rockefeller. A fast early pace could set things up for a horse to win from off the pace. The winner of Friday's race earns a spot in next month's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Now, Menez has handicapped the field for the American Pharoah Stakes, made his picks and formulated his bets.

We can tell you that he is completely fading Corniche, even though he is the 6-5 morning-line favorite. "I think that [debut] effort may have taken a little out of him," Menez told SportsLine. Menez will not have Corniche on any of his tickets.

Instead, Menez's top pick is a long shot who is "set to run big on Friday." He also is high on a horse who "should appreciate the strecthout in distance." Menez is including these horses in his wagers, and so should you. You NEED to see which horses they are before making any picks of your own.

So who wins the 2021 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Friday? And how has Menez structured his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get American Pharoah picks and wagers, all from the insider who once cashed for $6,900 on Kentucky Derby Saturday!