HORSE RACING

Today at Santa Anita Park

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up

2 Royal Meridian – Was flattered when Cyclometer won next out; need only improve a step to graduate today.

1 Octane – Bruce Headley has an uncoupled entry so be wary of Sequoia Warrior; ran well in his career debut.

Long Shot – 4 Sequoia Warrior

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

4 Valkyrie Missile – If you can draw a line thru the last race, he looks like the one; tactical speed to sit a trip.

5 Position A – Has run three decent races off the claim by Robertino Diodoro; draws well to stalk the early pace.

Long Shot – 1 Itssultryinthecape

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $26,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Platinum Mine – Jeff Mullins barn has been on a nice streak of late; won down the hill which is a positive.

7 Three Cuties – Third start off a 2-month hiatus; ran second last time she raced at this $25K price tag.

Long Shot – 1 Huntington Harbour

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds

5 Backwoods Belle – Flattered when Love My Way and Belle Gallentey won next out; may be the speed of the speed.

3 I Sense Your Luck – Won first off the claim for Mike Mitchell; takes an aggressive class rise to face a modest group.

Long Shot – 6 Silent Sue

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, 3-year-olds

7 Late Night Sky – Speedball should relish the turf rail out 15 feet; races first time for a price tag.

1 Craqui – Ran evenly in debut for Doug O’Neill; tries turf for the first time, he uses Mario Gutierrez.

Long Shot – 9 Tommy’s Kid

Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $10,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

6 Big Tsimmis – Flattered when Anna Your Up won next out; drops down to $10K off a win for $25K in a NW2L.

4 Filly Power – Second best last time in first race for this $8K price tag; has speed to lead or follow up close.

Long Shot – 1 Si Mar’s Dear

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds

5 Brigand – Tried turf once, but has the pedigree to like it; has tactical speed in a race lacking early pace types.

2 Achilles – Excellent debut win for Neil Drysdale; beat the highly regarded Brother Francis who ran in the Santa Anita Derby.

Long Shot – 6 Ransom Canyon

Race 8 – 5 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

7 Alworth – Was used up on a hot pace last time out; might be better suited sitting just off the pace and grinding late.

2 Mr. Newton – His last three races have shown a nice improvement; Dan Hendricks has been loyal to Paul Atkinson.

Long Shot – 6 Run for Miles

Best Bet – 5 Brigand (race 7)

Santa Anita Park Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/5/$21.00; Long Shots, 8/2/$28.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,045/273/$1,674.00; Long Shots, 528/82/$944.20; Best Bets, 60/24/$85.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #4 Sugarinthemorning (5/1) in race 8 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Distorted Legacy ran third at Gulfstream Park paying $2.60 to show. Stats – 57/42/$379.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick