HORSE RACING

Today at Santa Anita Park

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

4 Phantom Lover – Third start off a 10-month hiatus; stretching out for the first time, really improving for Ron Ellis.

2 Whipstock – Logical chalk off two second place finishes; among many trying organic dirt for the first time.

Long Shot – 3 Matlow

Race 2 – 1 1/8th miles, Purse $15,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

5 The Hunt Is On – Has run well on dirt in the money 4-of-5 tries; value with low percentage jockey David Vergara.

3 My Boy Luke – Dropping down the claiming ladder to the lowest price tag of his life; gets main man Joel Rosario up.

Long Shot – 4 Trueno

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $30,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

10 Ambitoness – There are no off meets for Mike Mitchell; like the turn back in distance, should be closing stoutly.

2 Bella Roja – Third start off a 4-month hiatus; dead late closer has run well down the hillside course in the past.

Long Shot – 12 Soul Custody

Race 4 – 7 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 2-year-olds

3 Fear the Beard – Leap of faith that Garrett Gomez isn’t riding a slowpoke; big class drop can only help the cause.

8 Danger Ranger – Tepid chalk had two parking lot posts that hurt at Del Mar, can help here; long run to the turn.

Long Shot – 2 Sabe

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $17,000, Claiming $10,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Elusive Schemes – Was impressed by the work of Vann Belvoir at Del Mar; Rafael Bejarano and bullet works swayed me.

3 Mar. Saturdaynight – A ship and win horse claimed from Dallas Keen; has a solid dirt and Santa Anita resume.

Long Shot – 7 Boulder Creek

Race 6 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

7 Panther’s Claw – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; another live mount for Garrett Gomez.

5 Mucho Bravo – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this career low class; adding blinkers on, it’s now or never.

Long Shot – 4 Crestatorre

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $48,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

11 Bluegrass Reward – Can it be a double for Mike Mitchell; outside posts down the hill are an advantage.

8 Holladay Road – Not much separating him and Bluegrass Reward; both are turning back in distance from a mile.

Long Shot – 10 Sammy’s Runnin’

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Sharp Upbeat – In a race this slow, don’t ignore a FTS; the tote board will tell you if he is live or not.

12 Red Dwarf – Run well everytime for a price tag; tried speed tactics last time to no avail, may sit a trip tonight.

Long Shot – 11 Trando’s Tremor

Best Bet – 5 Elusive Schemes (race 5)

Santa Anita Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$23.80; Long Shots, 8/2/$18.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.00

Santa Anita Totals – 57/15/$96.40; Long Shots, 28/5/$54.20; Best Bets, 3/1/$4.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #1 Sovereign Crisis (3/1) in race 1 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Seeker ran third at Belmont Park paying $3.60 to show. Stats – 153/100/$787.90