HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time Noon
Race 1 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
2 Tiz West – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low level; can wake up for Richard Mandella at fair odds.
5 El Merito – Tepid chalk has been away 4-months; flattered when Asperity won next time out.
Long Shot – 6 Job Boss
Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
6 Flightofalifetime – Was a distant second to spectacular winner Macleans Music; repeat race will win this.
3 Dr. Ballender – FTS from Steve Asmussen who saddled Macleans Music; this one can’t possible be as fast.
Long Shot – 1 Patriot’s Voyage
Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
3 Unzip Me – She has been nearly unbeatable down the hill; strange as this may seem, she is very quick but not speed crazy.
7 La Nez – Has transferred solid synthetic form onto the grass; last win down the hill was her best yet.
Long Shot – 5 Saaneen
Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up
1a Seven Secrets – Returns to the same class level he last won at; speed to lead or follow up close.
8 Beyond Loaded – Rallied sharp for an upset win in last; repeat race clearly gives him another puncher’s chance.
Long Shot – 4 Don Elias M.
Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up
8 Celtic Charmer – Been well backed in all 3 career starts; reunited with Rafael Bejarano who rode him best.
7 Just Meteor – Showed high cheese in debut and had reason to tire late; if he improves one step, he can beat these.
Long Shot – 4 Cragmont
Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
4 Off the Wall – We’ll find out if his last race was man or mouse; suspect a stalker style in a race loaded with speed.
6 Gallatin’s Run – Third start off a 5-month hiatus; was flattered when he beat Scored who won next time out.
Long Shot – 2 Nikki’sgoldensteed
Race 7 – 1 mile (turf), $150,000 Arcadia, 4-year-olds and up
6 Jeranimo – Finished a half-length behind the chalk in the Kilroe; can turn the tables with Rafael Bejarano up.
1 Caracortado – Logical chalk has turned into a monster on grass; can save all the ground from the rail.
Long Shot – 5 Liberian Freighter
Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
5 First Dude – Was dueled into submission in the Big Cap; suspect can take his time facing much easier foes.
8 Kevlar Kid – Going long for the first time on dirt; has the right style to stalk the pace and fight.
Long Shot – 4 Hot Damon
Race 9 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), $150,000 Providencia, Fillies, 3-year-olds
7 Cambina – Logical chalk of two gutsy wins in a row; she has shown a strong late kick, a key weapon on the tur.
1 Bonita Star – Loved her U.S. debut win; if she doesn’t suffer a Euro bounce, she has a puncher’s chance to upset.
Long Shot – 4 So Belle
Race 10 – 1 1/8th miles, $1-million Santa Anita Derby, 3-year-olds
9 Anthony’s Cross – Improving like a good one, in small, steady increments; this could be his breakthrough race.
6 Midnight Interlude – Bob Baffert doesn’t do much wrong during Triple Crown season; can outrun his high 20/1 odds.
Long Shot – 2 Indian Winter
Race 11 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
13 Hey Maria – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; facing a very slow group tonight.
9 Black Wildcat – In a race full of slowpokes, the FTS deserve attention; this filly gets Rafael Bejarano.
Long Shot – 2 Silver Luna
Best Bet – 6 Flightofalifetime (race 2)
Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$16.80; Long Shots, 8/1/$4.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,046/288/$1,867.70; Long Shots, 522/81/$783.80; Best Bets, 60/27/$109.10
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – #8 Royal Currier (12/1) in race 8 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Shadow Warrior ran out at Keeneland. Stats – 59/43/$347.20