Horse Racing

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

4 Achak – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career-low level; need not be much to handle this group.

5 Galleta Monstruo – Like the turn back in distance where he should be flying down the hill late; these are his friends.

Long Shot – 7 Exclamation

Race 2 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Hameildaeme – She ran and won in this class two races ago; P Val likes to put them into the action sooner than later.

2 Van Brit – Tepid chalk in an open affair; I know handicappers who like betting horses that were eased last time out.

Long Shot – 3 Bella Roja

Race 3 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

4 Tokubetsu – Twice-beaten favorite has frustrated his backers; Bob Baffert is winning everything, even MSW sprints.

2 Jack Reacher – Speedball figures to be the one to catch; notice there is an uncoupled entry from Baffert, be wary.

Long Shot – 3 Dubber

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Requisition – Beaten favorite has shown good tactical speed; figures to stalk and pounce in his turf debut.

4 Caffeine High – Claimed by Ron Ellis off a debut maiden win; he’s been pretty quiet this meet, expect more in Inglewood.

Long Shot – 7 Uncle Greg

Race 5 – 5 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

10 Naturaliste – Claimed by Doug O’Neill in career debut; seems the less starts the better at this bottom class rung.

9 Cabo San Lucas – Speedball has a resume of quitting in the final yards; may soon find a no-passing-zone field to graduate.

Long Shot – 1 Flammable Boom

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Reality Ride – Turf debut is not a concern in a field this non-descript; have to like the Candy Ride pedigree.

3 One Nation – Has been a gross underachiever considering his pedigree; big class drop first time for a price tag.

Long Shot – 8 Parable

Race 7 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

6 Fine and Rare – Ran a career best last time in a solid placing; if he improves one step he should graduate tonight.

5 Nuclear Missile – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much to compete.

Long Shot – 10 Faithful Secret

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $56,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

6 Sensational News – Has the pedigree to adore grass; like that Richard Mandella is using Alonso Quinonez more often.

7 Vaundell – Ran like a short horse in return off a year hiatus; might prefer turf to dirt too accounting for the finish.

Long Shot – 2 Format V.

Race 9 – 7 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Belo Purse – Hate the rail post in this elongated sprint, but like the horse; Joel Rosario sits a pocket trip.

8 Concerto’s Thunder – Speedball has turned in two good races in a row; has proven he does not need the lead to succeed.

Long Shot – 7 Streets of Heaven

Race 10 – 1 3/4 miles (turf), $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap, 4-year-olds and up

2 Haimish Hy – Did not run his race in the surface switch San Luis Rey; he prefers dirt and will be closing fast late.

10 Juniper Pass – Long-winded sort was nicely handled in San Luis Rey win by Rafael Bejarano; suspect will stalk today.

Long Shot – 3 Dahoud

Best Bet – 4 Tokubetsu (race 3)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/4/$28.00; Long Shots, 10/4/$37.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$37.60

Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,134/312/$2,034.20; Long Shots, 565/88/$854.60; Best Bets, 65/29/$115.70

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 7 Keep Up (2/1) in race 7 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Crimson China ran out at Keeneland. Stats – 64/45/$357.20