Horse Racing: Santa Anita Park, 10/13/11

Today at Santa Anita Park

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $24,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Jeopardy Lady – Was flattered when Hot Ticket won next time out; main concern is trying dirt for the first time.

6 Ballistic Blonde – Mike Chambers wins races at a high percentage wherever he goes; well spotted for victory.

Long Shot – 2 Spirit Seeker

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $30,000,, 2-year-olds

5 He’s a Bandit – Huge class drop can only help the cause; stretching out in distance, facing a slow group.

2 Rare Song – Another stretching out around 2-turns for the first time; taking the blinkers off for this.

Long Shot – Victoriasugrdaddy

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Lofty Ambition – Ran well off a 13-month hiatus; Humberto Ascanio was the long time assistant to Bobby Frankel.

13 Stormy Slew – Been away nearly a year, but faced much tougher fields than this; like that Joel Rosario stays loyal.

Long Shot – 6 Valeria

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

4 For You My Heart – Draw a line thru the turf race in last; her race two back is clearly fast enough to beat these.

1 Si Mar’s Dear – Second best last time for $32K at Fairplex; Daniel Vergara has done a great job so far this meet.

Long Shot – 9 March Mary

Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Royal Heat – Faded in a turf mile last time; her two races before that fit well in this company, big upset chance.

2 Cragmont – Her maiden win two back was a career best; suspect she can run back to that and upset this field.

Long Shot – 4 Stick to the Plan

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

7 Unusual Beam – Two tough trips in a row; Rafael Bejarano sticks with him and a straight stretch run can win it.

8 Cranky Jack – Dead game effort on the front end in last; been off 7-weeks, can’t see why he can’t repeat that today.

Long Shot – 2 Amoracchius

Race 7 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $48,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

4 Bluegrass Reward – Mike Mitchell is always tough to beat; he adds blinkers on, was flattered when Mega Heat won again.

1 Lodi Red – Expect a rail skimming ride under Brice Blanc; his one dirt race last year at Santa Anita was a good second.

Long Shot – 2 Starspangled Heat

Race 8 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Top Torero – Was second best by 9-lengths as a short chalk in last; his debut race two back if repeated crushes these.

7 Del Mar Johnny – Nearly pulled off a 58/1 upset in last; has shown improvement and won’t be nearly that price tonight.

Long Shot – 6 St. Valentino

Best Bet – 4 For You My Heart (race 4)

Santa Anita Monday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/5/$37.80; Long Shots, 9/1/$10.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals – 140/40/$264.80; Long Shots, 72/11/$113.40; Best Bets, 8/4/$22.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Fiji Star (5/1) in race 4 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Monday, Sinners Repent ran out at Laurel Park. Stats – 157/101/$794.80; follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick