HORSE RACING
Today at Santa Anita Park
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
5 Maui Mark – Was dueled into submission last time in a wicked pace battle; Kevin Krigger needs to let off the accelerator.
4 Buyer’s Remorse – Claimed by Jack Carava off a sharp win; should be able to handle the class rise looking at his resume.
Long Shot – 1 Slam Slew
Race 2 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $30,000, 4-year-olds and up
2 Last Sting – Was left with too much to do in the lane last out; rallied against the speed bias of the turf course.
1 A Little Hot Sauce – Don’t normally like horses that just won their MSW; can hug the rail, save ground and grind it out late.
Long Shot – 8 Warren’s Kong
Race 3 – 1 mile, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
8 Bodemeister – Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry and both have a big shot; this colt is named after Baffert’s son.
3 Welter Weight – Lost to a good one in Consulado last time; Corey Nakatani must beat a tough 1-2 Bob Baffert duo.
Long Shot – 7 Stirred Up
Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up
5 El Merito – Mike Mitchell charge is dropping down to the bottom rung; looked sluggish early, but ran better late.
6 Elusive Schemes – Big class drop offers this veteran a chance; tactical speed to sit a decent trip.
Long Shot – 8 Maker
Race 5 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds
7 Askra – Got off poorly but showed moxie when she settled into stride; expect improvement second out for John Sadler.
4 Lovestealer – Showed some potential in her two turf tries; tactical speed to sit a nice trip throughout.
Long Shot – 9 Dixie in Pink
Race 6 – 1 mile, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds
2 Mr. Padre – Takes 10 pounds off with bugboy son of Eibar Coa; he’s yet to win a race, but this is a live mount.
12 Visible Marq – Will have to draw in, but could be a live one; sliding down the maiden claiming ladder.
Long Shot – 10 War Politics
Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $58,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
4 Ten Devils – Big run down the hill first time for Richard Mandella; figures to be tighter in second start off a 2-month hiatus.
11 Farmer Giles – Parking lot posts are OK down the hillside turf course; like the cut back in distance for late punch.
Long Shot – 5 Nextdoorneighbor
Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
9 Pink Lollipops – Bob Baffert filly shows a lot of potential; trainer is very live today and could win multiples.
6 Spectacular Sky – Rafael Bejarano has remained loyal to this filly despite only one win; suspect he sees potential in her.
Long Shot – 13 Hout Bay
Race 9 – 1 1/4 miles (turf), $150,000 San Marcos, 4-year-olds and up
4 Sanagas – Decision to move to SoCal led to a trainer change from Graham Motion to Peter Miller; new rider too in Joel Rosario.
8 Bourbon Bay – This is a nice horse who figures to have a big season this year; rematch with Sanagas in a good match up.
Long Shot – 2 Norvsky
Race 10 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
11 Candy Sweetheart – Claimed by Vann Belvoir who is having another big meet; young trainer has proven his worth in SoCal.
7 Sky Fox – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder; third start off a 15-month hiatus, should be tight for this.
Long Shot – 6 Father Pabst
Best Bet – 2 Last Sting (race 2)
Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/4/$21.60; Long Shots, 8/3/$21.80; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.20
Santa Anita Park Totals – 474/120/$739.80; Long Shots, 239/38/$453.80; Best Bets, 27/13/$48.00
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Z Vilna (5/2) in race 2 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Shared Heart won at Gulfstream Park paying $4.00 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats – 25/18/$190.90; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
