HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Lichtenstein – Very short price on the other half of the Baffert uncoupled entry; will be stalking from the wide out.

4 Reality Ride – Longer odds price of the uncoupled Bob Baffert entry; the trainer history is to win with the longer price.

Long Shot – 3 Saintly Soul

Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

5 Lift Our Luck – Jeff Mullins barn has started the meet fast; dead-late closer exiting a productive race.

6 Takethemoneyandrun – Interesting Woodbine shipper makes her SoCal debut for Vladimir Cerin; expect P Val to send.

Long Shot – 4 Sambora

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $38,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

8 Bella Roja – Always prefer the outside posts down the hillside turf course; Rafael Bejarano will sit and charge late.

4 Magic Launch – Speedball tactics under P Val; will like the turf rail out 24 feet, which obviously aids frontrunners.

Long Shot – 1 Saanneen

Race 4 – 7 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Marquisite – Big rider switch to P Val for the money shot; third start off a 10-month hiatus could be her best.

5 Elle Dehere – You have to search pretty hard to love Kerwin John on a chalk FTS; shows you how slow this field really is.

Long Shot – 9 Warrens Matchmaker

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Bitt a Heat – She is an in-and-outer so far in her career; Garrett Gomez stays loyal, expect more consistency today.

6 Bila Shaka – Ran evenly in debut, which was clearly a test drive; is bred top and bottom to adore the grass.

Long Shot – 1 Orfano

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Serene Sophia – You ignore Bob Baffert starters this meet at your own peril; they are running like they’re on rocket fuel.

2 Our Road Scholar – Has some good dirt experience on her resume; big paycheck casher for the A. C. Avila barn.

Long Shot – 5 Streamline Baby

Race 7 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $56,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

4 Yodelen Dan – At 8-YO he remains as consistent as they come on turf; Jeff Mullins spaces his races and spots him well.

3 Sporting Art – This is the price tag that Mike Mitchell claimed him for; expect a top effort and likely to get claimed.

Long Shot – 2 Tiz Argent

Race 8 – 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

9 Marino’s Promise – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this low level; good tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

6 Led Advantage – Another sliding down the claiming ladder to a career-low class; need not be much to handle these.

Long Shot – 8 Warrens Highroller

Best Bet – 4 Serene Sophia (race 6)

Santa Anita Park Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/5/$32.00; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 116/36/$238.00; Long Shots, 57/7/$64.00; Best Bets, 7/3/$10.80

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 7 Spanish Comedy (7/2) in race 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Justa Average Joe ran third at Tampa Bay Downs paying $2.40 to show. Stats – 7/5/$40.60