Horse racing: Santa Anita, April 7, 2012

By Richard Eng

Post Time Noon

Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $58,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

4 Valley Cat – After 5 in the money finishes, it’s time to get his picture taken; loses a lot of ground at the start.

2 He’s Very Rare – I typically don’t like horses that just graduate; facing winners for the first time is a big class rise.

Long Shot – 3 Liberal Arts

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up

2 Quietly Mine – Veteran ran a winning race for this class two back; like that Joel Rosario remains loyal.

3 Solar Rocket – Claimed by Mark Glatt off a daylight victory for Bob Baffert; most don’t improve off a Baffert cull.

Long Shot – 8 Dave’s Pacemaker

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Mint Humor – Potential lone early speed for Rafael Bejarano; was grabbing the early lead on grass on Friday.

2 Relentless Heat – Solid turf resume with 3-of-4 in the money finishes; tactical speed to sit a decent trip.

Long Shot – 5 Stone Hot

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

8 Designer – FTS from Bob Baffert does not look like one of his best ones; still, it wouldn’t take much for him to wire these.

7 Regulus – Another FTS, this one from Eoin Harty; has some bullet workouts and the services of Joel Rosario.

Long Shot – 3 Treacherous

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

5 Quatar’s Pearl – I’ve been chasing this horse all winter; he is now a first time gelding, it’s a now or never scenario.

4 Currahee – Chased a good looking prospect in Boat Trip last out; big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot.

Long Shot – 3 Aqua Revelation

Race 6 – 1 1/8th miles, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, 3-year-olds

8 Midnight Transfer – While most focused on Creative Cause and Bodemeister, this guy improved a lot for third in the San Felipe.

1 Creative Cause – Like Union Rags last week in the Florida Derby, this is not a must win prep as with many other horses.

Long Shot – 4 I’ll Have Another

Race 7 – 1 mile, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

5 Ain – Ran like a horse in need of a race off a 13-month hiatus; expect improvement in second start off the layoff.

7 Fiddlers Afleet – Was a non-factor in the Santa Anita Handicap; barely warmed up in the Big Cap, plenty left in the tank today.

Long Shot – 8 Ultimate Decision

Race 8 – 1 1/8th miles, $150,000 Providencia, 3-year-olds

1 Lady of Shamrock – This filly is improving by leaps and bounds; has won her last three turf starts in a row.

4 Byrama – Broke thru with an explosive late kick down the hillside turf course; now stretches back out around 2-turns.

Long Shot – 7 Indigo River

Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, $150,000 Potrero Grande, 4-year-olds and up

2 Amazombie – The champion sprinter was clearly not cranked up for his season debut; suspect he’ll be a lot sharper tonight.

1 Sway Away – This always has been a horse with a high ceiling; he should stretch out fine around 2-turns later on this season.

Long Shot – 7 Courtside

Race 10 – 1 mile (turf), $75,000 American Beauty, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Belle Royale – Euro veteran gets Lasix for the first time in her 25th start; not she never ran in a group race in England.

9 Go Forth North – Was flattered when Let’s Go Cheyenne won next out; A. C. Avila has an uncoupled entry and both could count.

Long Shot – 8 Gem of Soul

Race 11 – 7 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

1 Midnight Con – Lost valuable momentum at a key point in the race last time; Doug O’Neill tries out Alonso Quinonez today.

5 Swiss Game – This is an atypical Joel Rosario mount; suspect it’s business to ride more horses for Mike Harrington.

Long Shot – 8 Galitzianer

Best Bet – 1 Lady of Shamrock (race 8)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/2/$11.60; Long Shots, 8/5/$49.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.40

Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,009/261/$1,618.20; Long Shots, 511/79/$906.00; Best Bets, 58/23/$81.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Hard Not to Like (6/1) in race 8 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 in, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Silver Max won at Keeneland paying $8.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Stats 55/40/$362.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick