HORSE RACING
February 12, 2011 - 2:08 am
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds
3 T. K. Fortysix – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; the maestro adding blinkers on.
7 Seeking Solace – Tepid chalk in an open event; like that Garrett Gomez chose to ride in a bottom maiden claimer.
Long Shot – 4 Star Navigator
Race 2 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
6 Ruby Lane – Mare has knocked at the door without getting in; this is a slower group so she has a fighting chance.
2 Elle Dehere – Huge change in jockey and trainer to Rafael Bejarano and Jerry Hollendorfer; expect some improvement.
Long Shot – 1 Elegant
Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
3 Albergatti – Ran fast enough to win a stakes last time, much less a MSW; repeat race would win this by daylight.
5 Indian Knight – FTS from the Bob Baffert barn; Baffert babies need to be looked at twice, seemingly they are all live.
Long Shot – 6 Chico d’Oro
Race 4 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
1 Unknown Heat – The team of Chantal Sutherland and Barry Abrams won a lot of races last winter; time to start heating up again.
4 Nana Beach – Ran OK in turf debut at a generous 21/1 odds; no such price tonight, uncoupled Barry Abrams Unbridled Heat entry.
Long Shot – 7 Team Builder
Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
7 Bullfighter – Been away 3 months but beat up on tougher than these; this $20k price tag field are his friends.
4 The Whammer – Third start off a 3-month hiatus could be his best; was done in twice by a wicked speed-favoring bias.
Long Shot – 3 Mensa Heat
Race 6 – 1 1/8th miles, $250,000 Robert B. Lewis, 3-year-olds
4 Tapizar – Steve Asmussen colt is on everyone’s top 10 list for the Kentucky Derby; loses only if he bounces to the moon.
2 Anthony’s Cross – With Comma to the Top running in the El Camino Real Derby, the field looks like a NW1X allowance race.
Long Shot – 6 Riveting Reason
Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $59,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up
6 Red Alert Day – Speedball tired in his first race in 8 months; Neil Drysdale takes the blinkers off, another speed effort.
4 Earnednevergiven – Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; tactical speed to sit a nice trip, must hold off the cavalry charge.
Long Shot – 3 My Summer Slew
Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, $150,000 Santa Maria, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
1 St Trinians – With Zenyatta retired, she is capable of stepping up; biggest test is adapting to natural dirt.
5 Zardana – She was good enough on dirt to upset Rachel Alexandra; John Shirreffs means business in a graded stakes.
Long Shot – 2 Vision in Gold
Race 9 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Allowance, Fillies, 3-year-olds
5 Star Presence – Had no chance in a wicked fast Santa Ynez; the pace will be slower today, she should adapt to turf too.
4 Wave of Applause – Tepid chalk in the hardest race in the pick 6; ran way too well to lose in last, will face pace pressure.
Long Shot – 6 Orangeblackandgold
Race 10 – 6 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up
1 Zulu King – Taking a red-flag class drop in search of victory; need not be much to handle this slow group.
11 Peacock Alliance – Claimed by Melody Conlon who has had success with that angle; needs only to improve a step to win.
Long Shot – 10 Cynical Wager
Best Bet – 4 Tapizar (6)
Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/4/$19.60; Long Shots, 8/2/$17.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$6.00
Santa Anita Park Totals – 495/134/$844.90; Long Shots, 248/33/$333.40; Best Bets, 29/13/$50.90
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 8 Lady of Greatness (9/2) in race 6 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Northern Prince ran third at Tampa Bay Downs paying $3.40 to show. Stats – 28/23/$186.70