Horse Racing
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds
3 Toro Trippi – Claimed by Rafael Becerra off a sharp daylight win; it was his dirt debut, and a good one at that.
2 Bertran Hill – Dead-late closer will pick up the pieces should a speed meltdown occur; rallies under Rafael Bejarano.
Long Shot – 1 Western Smoke
Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies, 4-year-olds
7 Lost Prophet – Has won 3-of-4 recent starts, now claimed by Adam Kitchingman; should continue her winning ways.
2 Our Bellini Bikini – Has good tactical speed should the favorite falter late; figures to hang around for a piece.
Long Shot – 3 Led Advantage
Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
5 He’s a Dance Star – Should get more value with Alonso Quinonez replacing Rafael Bejarano; beaten chalk in last.
7 Itssultryinthecape – Figures to be the early speed, good thought with the turf rail out 15 feet; catch him to win.
Long Shot – 9 Really Uptown
Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
4 Ascot’s Highflyer – Strong dirt debut last time when second; she still needs to improve one step to beat these.
7 Merrytagio – Dead-late closer figures to be sitting closer to the early pace; vote of Joel Rosario is key.
Long Shot – 2 Tiz O’Gold
Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs, $100,000 Irish O’Brien, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
6 Saanneen – She loves the hillside turf course, a real horse for course setup; tested for class today.
7 Quisisana – Was overmatched in the grade 1 Santa Monica, so draw a line through it; she has good tactical speed.
Long Shot – 9 Ms. G. I. Jane
Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
6 Haven’s Lake – Third start off a 3-month hiatus could be her best; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.
9 Ann’s Seven – You could handicap this race based upon the trainers; Bill Spawr and Jack Carava can be 1-2.
Long Shot – Poetic Riches
Race 7 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), $150,000 Santa Ana, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
1 Malibu Pier – Beaten favorite in the Buena Vista; Rafael Bejarano had choices and opted to stick with Carla Gaines.
7 Eclair de Lune – Tepid chalk gets the services of Big Cap winner Chantal Sutherland; both will need their A game.
Long Shot – 2 Church Camp
Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
9 Flightofalifetime – If you don’t know the sire Werblin, he was a very fast East Coast sprinter; this colt should be quick.
3 Meadow Road – Suspect Richard Mandella wants to beat Bob Baffert, every time; one race experience can mean a lot.
Long Shot – 6 Maclean’s Music
Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $59,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
1 Crisis of Spirit – Horrid trip 2 races ago, was dull in last; big rider switch to Joe Talamo signals intent.
5 Saint Isabelle – Speedball returns off a 6-month hiatus; proven she doesn’t need the lead to succeed.
Long Shot – 2 Excellent News
Race 10 – 7 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
10 Jordanelle – Cull from the Zenyatta team of John Shirreffs and Jerry Moss; can improve in third start off a 10-month hiatus.
4 Make Someone Happy – Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; been away 4 months, returns at the bottom class level.
Long Shot – 1 Suitable Attire
Best Bet – 7 Lost Prophet (race 2)
Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/6/$35.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$9.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.00
Santa Anita Park Totals – 837/230/$1,470.50; Long Shots, 421/63/$624.40; Best Bets, 49/21/$85.70
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 5 Rahystrada (8/1) in race 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Stepaside won at Tampa Bay Downs paying $4.40 to win, $3.00 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats – 47/34/$264.40
