HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds
4 Chinese Praise – Aggressively raised in price off big wins at the Fair Grounds; proven over organic dirt.
2 Luckarack – OK run on grass, but dirt is his preferred surface; Jeff Mullins knows what he has now.
Long Shot – 5 Montellano
Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
3 Dancing Tiger – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; facing a slowpoke group.
7 Giveitupforthelady – Another taking the drop from MSW to maiden claiming; his two-race resume looks awful.
Long Shot – 4 Wicked Trip
Race 3 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Tashzara – Been stuck on second in 4-of-5 U.S. starts; big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano to get the “W.”
2 Great Passion – Chance to be the speed of the motley crew; pedigree to love grass, stretching out for the first time.
Long Shot – 3 Last Sting
Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
3 Fairway Road – Big trainer switch to Mike Mitchell; has a ton of back class and good races to run back to.
2 Angels’ Share – Off the turf angle; her win two back is fast enough to upset these, will come from behind.
Long Shot – 4 You Can Dream
Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Blue Grass Music – Stretching out for the first time for Tom Proctor; has the pedigree to improve chasing a softer pace.
8 One Bad Romance – They tried to get this speedball on turf in last; adds blinkers on, should finally get her wish today.
Long Shot – 4 Reddy Go Jaylo
Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 Mensa Heat – He has earned a lot of money the old fashioned way; old-school runner tries his very best every 3 weeks.
4 Western Smoke – Speedball will take this field as fast and as far as he can; no sense playing coy with these.
Long Shot – 6 Dave’s Pacemaker
Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Allowance, Fillies, 3-year-olds
4 Rosehill Dew – U.S. debut for the Ron McAnally French import; in the old days he was lethal taking over foreign horses.
1 Rumor – Favorite is buried along the dreaded rail down the hillside turf course; may be good enough to overcome it.
Long Shot – 5 Teroda
Race 8 – 7 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Wild Cat Lore – Sliding down the maiden claiming ranks to the bottom of the barrel; may be a now-or-never moment.
7 Golden Tranquility – In a race this poor, you must look twice at the FTS; need not be much to compete in here.
Long Shot – 3 Nip of Gold
Best Bet – 1 Blue Grass Music (race 5)
Santa Anita Park Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 13/4/$20.40; Long Shots, 7/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,098/306/$1,994.00; Long Shots, 548/83/$810.40; Best Bets, 63/28/$111.90
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – #6 Society’s Chairman (9/2) in race 9 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Fascinatin’ Rhythm ran out at Keeneland. Stats – 62/44/$354.00