Horse Racing, Santa Anita Park, Jan. 1, 2012

Today at Santa Anita Park

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Mona Storm – Like her dirt form and proven over Santa Anita; parking lot post allows her to clock the early speed.

2 Russian River – Logical chalk from the Mike Mitchell barn; key variable is her 1 race resume on dirt.

Long Shot – 5 Five Silver Stars

Race 2 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

10 D’wildbunch – Has shown steady improvement with each start; hard to keep out of the number with these slowpokes.

9 Sheriff Hutton – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; been away 7-months too.

Long Shot – 12 Tale Be Told

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $45,000, Claiming $50,000, 4-year-olds and up

2 Muny – Another Mike Mitchell favorite, he just keeps winning races; solid resume down the hillside turf course.

7 My Summer Slew – Been away 10-months, but has won down the hill before; suspect will sit out wide and finish.

Long Shot – 6 Macias

Race 4 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 4-year-olds and up

5 Absolutcat – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Kristin Mulhall adding blinkers on.

12 Jack Reacher – Was flattered when Lord Vronsky won next out; has speed to join the chase from the get go.

Long Shot – 6 Jim’s Decision

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs, $75,000 Kalookan Queen Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Saint Isabelle – Mike Pupye has been patient in developing this young talent; 5-YO mare is ready to explode on the scene.

6 Rumor – Richard Mandella has always thought highly of this filly; expect her to stretch out and face tougher tests.

Long Shot – 8 Big Tiz

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, 8 feet), Purse $58,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 There Is No Limit – Figures to be the best closer in a race jammed with early speed; like the value to pick up the pieces.

9 Princess Suances – Speedball will take advantage of the turf rail out 8 feet; figures to have many on her heels.

Long Shot – 4 Miss Sea Cup

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds

2 Sir Ed – Like her Santa Anita races two back; she could be a horse for course and is stabled here in Arcadia.

7 Tales of Tigger – Big class dropper is the logical chalk in an open affair; has enough tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

Long Shot – 5 Bryan Daniel

Race 8 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 8 feet), $150,000 Robert J. Frankel, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 City to City – Her turf races at Santa Anita are better than anywhere else; note Garrett Gomez exits to ride Bauble Queen.

4 Turning Top – She is a hard tryer but a cut below grade 1 quality;; these are her friends in the field today.

Long Shot – 2 Celestial Kitten

Race 9 – 7 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

13 Hava Cigar – You must always respect who Joel Rosario is riding; Doug O’Neill taking the blinkers off.

6 Sabe – Mike Machowsky taking the blinkers off; he has run fast enough to beat this kind; like the cut back in distance.

Long Shot – 14 Rass Stone

Best Bet – 7 Saint Isabelle (race 5)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/5/$46.00; Long Shots, 9/1/$12.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 64/19/$125.80; Long Shots, 33/5/$79.80; Best Bets, 3/1/$4.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Say A Novena (5/1) in race 9 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Deal Making ran out at Gulfstream Park. Stats – 4/2/$9.70; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick