Horse Racing, Santa Anita Park, Feb. 26

Today at Santa Anita Park

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Nihilist – Edge to the chalk due to recent action; had a good reason last out to get tired in the latter stages.

1 Tiz the Tide – Was a hot horse as a beaten favorite in debut race; been away since June, the tote board will talk.

Long Shot – 5 Light of Life

Race 2 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $26,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

7 Loro – Second start off a 3-month hiatus; stretching out in distance but has shown the ability to rate and grind late.

1 The Flying Warrior – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; need not be much to compete with these.

Long Shot – 9 Warrens Wild Thing

Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

2 Wild Gray – Alonso Quinonez exits the chalk to ride for Bobby Troeger; let’s see if he made the decision for good reason.

7 Siempre Mkio – After two sharp races, gets a new rider in hot bugboy Eswan Flores; takes the 5-pounds off for this.

Long Shot – 6 Footloose Freddie

Race 4 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Hiatus – Has a chance to sit a rail trip and rally in the lane; reunited with hot riding Rafael Bejarano.

2 Howmuchisit – Vann Belvoir has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; expect this speedball to set the pace.

Long Shot – 7 Format V.

Race 5 – 7 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

2 Afleet Cowboy – Fresh face in a race full of slowpokes; been away 10-months, but showed ability before long vacation.

8 Crestatorre – Logical chalk has run some good races but like this entire field, has no appetite for winning a horse race.

Long Shot – 3 Outta Splash

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

3 Batalha – Returns to her preferred surface; they tried dirt and tougher in last, A. C. Avila goes with Martin Garcia.

5 Byrama – Solid turf resume makes this one a logical chalk contender; figures to sit a trip and fire late.

Long Shot – 1 Starship Flare

Race 7 – 7 furlongs, Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up

3 Indian Winter – Draw a line thru the Strub debacle and his resume looks OK; blinkers off and Rafael Bejarano back on.

1 Saddleranch – Been away 8-months since a first level allowance win at Saratoga; rail a tough spot in elongated sprint.

Long Shot – 6 Luckarack

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), $70,000 Baffle, 3-year-olds

2 Stoney Fleece – Been away 2-months, but shows an affinity for sod; like the turn back in distance, will be flying late.

7 Brigand – Bob Baffert only seems to be winning every start the past two weeks; this colt is razor quick from the gate.

Long Shot – 3 Loukas

Race 9 – 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Folk Dancer – Speedball may play catch me if you can in a no passing zone field; tough way to end the pick 6.

3 All the Love – Sliding down the claiming ladder since taken by Adam Kitchingman from Mike Mitchell; will try and cut his losses.

Long Shot – 6 Sizzling Gold

Best Bet – 3 Batalha (race 6)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/6/$30.60; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 0/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 641/166/$1,031.00; Long Shots, 323/44/$533.60; Best Bets, 36/17/$60.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #10 Hailstone (10/1) in race 9 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Grace Hall ran second at Gulfstream Park paying $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats – 34/26/$239.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick