HORSE RACING
February 17, 2011 - 2:10 am
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 Preferred Behavior – Like his debut race when second two back; suspect he’ll show more early speed around 2 turns.
3 Captain Beau – Favorite could fall into a perfect stalker role should the rail horse leave; P Val loving the return to dirt.
Long Shot – 5 Matamor
Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $59,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
2 Uh Oh Bango – Could see a perfect pace scenario if the top and bottom horses duel; key question is been away 10 months.
5 Bulldogger – Has wicked fast early speed; Bob Baffert is cooling off somewhat from his 40 percent clip early in the meet.
Long Shot – 1 Streakin’ Mohican
Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up
2 Ghost Ride – Looks like a FTS from Eric Guillot ready to explode from the gate; has the pedigree to be any kind of horse.
6 Reality Ride – Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; you’ll have a big edge on me in seeing the tote board action.
Long Shot – 7 Squad
Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $34,000, Claiming $32,000, 4-year-olds and up
2 Bestdressed – Ran poorly in last facing a tougher field; his race two back, if repeated, can upset these.
4 Trumpet Player Jay – Mild favorite in another wide-open race; was overmatched in last, spotted nicely to win.
Long Shot – 3 Maui Mark
Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 Member Ofthe Tribe – The logical chalk figures to be way overbet; huge rider switch to P Val, he is vulnerable.
4 Tsunami Warning – Like the turn back in distance from route to sprint; figures his best stride will come late.
Long Shot – 5 Clocker Moment
Race 6 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $26,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 Fog Alert – Taking a steep class drop for Art Sherman; taking the blinkers off, was well regarded early in his career.
5 Tropical Heat – None of these horses wants to win in this NW2L condition; just might inherit the lead late.
Long Shot – 2 Tiz True
Race 7 – 1 mile, Purse $56,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 In The Paint – Leap of faith that Mike Mitchell has this one figured out; like the blinkers off in this much easier spot.
4 Coo Cachoo – Tepid chalk in what could be the hardest race on the card; any horse from top to bottom can win this.
Long Shot – 5 Carnivore
Race 8 – 7 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds and up
9 Streets of Heaven – Did everything but win last time in a tough beat; big rider switch to Martin Pedroza for the money shot.
7 Waafi – Dead-late closer will need some help from a pace duel up front; Joel Rosario sits and makes one run.
Long Shot – 2 Concerto’s Thunder
Best Bet – 1 Fog Alert (race 6)
Santa Anita Park Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/6/$40.20; Long Shots, 8/2/$19.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Park Totals – 533/145/$930.30; Long Shots, 266/37/$376.80; Best Bets, 31/13/$50.90
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 5 Bull Hole (5/2) in race 6 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Cane Garden Bay ran out at Gulfstream Park. Stats – 30/24/$200.10