HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA Park
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
5 Blue Grass Music – Dropped for the lowest price tag of her career; tries dirt for the first time, but is bred for it.
7 Hollywood Affair – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom class; if these don’t win now, it’s on to Phoenix.
Long Shot – 6 Mrs Mayor
Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds
6 Ghost Black – Monmouth invader for trainer Patrick Biancone; this is the lowest price tag of his career.
2 Dre’s K – Sliding down the claiming ladder to the lowest level of his life; like the turn back in distance for this sprint.
Long Shot – 8 Ominous Thomas
Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
3 Bee Eff Eff – Beaten favorite didn’t have much excuse in last; her debut was good and she could run back to that tonight.
8 Cee’s the Year – Ran like a very green horse in debut; started slow, had to find her stride, then closed like a banshee.
Long Shot – 2 Ohhh a Wise Guy
Race 4 – 1 1/4 miles (turf), $150,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship, 3-year-olds and up
7 Acclamation – Was scratched from the Goodwood for this easier spot; on a four-race win skein, can take all the heat.
3 Champ Pegasus – Clearly prepped in the one-mile Del Mar Hcp; he likes a distance of ground and should improve a lot.
Long Shot – 2 Imponente Purse
Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds
14 Contested – Was highly touted in debut and ran well considering; Bob Baffert taking the blinkers off here.
2 Made to Love Her – Big switch from turf and route back to a sprint; showed some ability, offers decent value at 6/1.
Long Shot – 5 Mi Vida
Race 6 – 7 furlongs, Purse $51,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
8 C J Russell – Bob Baffert figures to have a big meet since he wanted a return to dirt; class relief from stakes races.
7 Quality Council – Eastern invader looks like a good pickup for David Hofmans; four good works for this SoCal debut.
Long Shot – 6 Spaniard
Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $33,000, Claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
3 Kelly Leak – John Sadler gets conservative off the claim for $40K; proven turf runner won down the hill this spring.
10 Aces of Aces – Turf specialist has had success down the hillside course; dead fit off the turn back in distance.
Long Shot – 11 Muny
Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, $250,000 Oak Leaf, Fillies, 2-year-olds
8 Weemissfrankie – Powerful win in the Del Mar Debutante; will be tested going around 2 turns for the first time.
4 Candrea – Bob Baffert won a Fairplex stakes with this baby; she’s facing much tougher but must be respected.
Long Shot – 10 Charm the Maker
Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up
10 Exclamation – Nice win off the claim by Jeff Mullins, now is dropped in class; has what it takes to be a repeater.
11 Fortunate Appeal – Won for $25K at Fairplex, now is in for $8K; red flag drop, but winning races is what it’s about.
Long Shot – 3 Carbon Hoofprint
Best Bet – 14 Contested (race 5)
Santa Anita Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 22/5/$36.80; Long Shots, 11/1/$5.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals – 40/10/$72.60; Long Shots, 20/3/$35.80; Best Bets, 2/0/$0
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Seeker (5/2) in race 7 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, I Spy Too ran third at Presque Isle Downs paying $4.20 to show. Stats – 152/99/$784.30