Horse Racing, Santa Anita Park, March 3

Today at Santa Anita Park

By Richard Eng

Post Time noon

Race 1 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

6 Baraja de Oro – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; need not be much horse to handle these.

1 Pacific Avenue – Been away 13-months; the question is one of fitness, not back class, to upset this slow bunch.

Long Shot – 5 Rino U

Race 2 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

2 Stirred Up – Bob Baffert appears to be winning with every horse he sends out; Bodemeister was his stablemate in last.

3 Holy Candy – Was flattered when Castaway next out won a division of the Southwest at Oaklawn; like the little squigglies.

Long Shot – 6 Cat’s Enough

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, 4-year-olds and up

3 Muny – This is the lone Mike Mitchell entry today; you can’t expect him to go home empty handed on Big Cap day.

4 Crossing The Line – Logical chalk will surely get overbet off his last win; has the best late kick in the field.

Long Shot – 7 Sky Cape

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

6 Mile High Magic – Sure looks like a potential Bob Baffert exacta; was a no surprise 4/5 odds favorite in debut.

4 Eaton Hall – The other Baffert uncoupled entrymate in the field; suspect this one shows speed while his mate finishes.

Long Shot – 7 Stratify

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

10 American Blend – Misfortune of chasing Setsuko in last; that one was a first time gelding and ran like it too.

3 Strasbourg – Showed high cheese in last before tiring late; 6-YO has started only 8 times, was well regarded at one point.

Long Shot – 4 Oilisblackgold

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

9 Special Charm – Ran with a flat tire last time; big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano and shortens up too.

11 Royale Legacy – FTS from the hot Doug O’Neill barn; stable has been winning races in bunches the last few weeks.

Long Shot – 6 Lobshot

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

2 Da Ruler – Strong second to Sway Away in last who ran second to The Factor next out; figures to be able to boss these today.

11 Hoorayforhollywood – Another Bob Baffert uncoupled entry and both have a big shot to win; class relief from the Malibu.

Long Shot – 6 Scofield Barracks

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

8 Renegade Storm – Flattered when Slim Shadey won next out; he is better at a mile so cutting back in distance is a good thing.

10 Twin Six – Speedball will test these on the front of the bus; the rail is at zero so he loses an edge from recent days.

Long Shot – 3 Ten Devils

Race 9 – 1 mile, $250,000 Las Virgenes, Fillies, 3-year-olds

5 Eden’s Moon – Bob Baffert babies are behind the 8-ball prepping for the KY Derby and KY Oaks; little margin for error.

7 Reneesgotzip – Been nothing short of sensational in two starts, both wins; key question is how far she will go.

Long Shot – 2 Charm the Maker

Race 10 – 1 mile (turf), $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, 4r-year-olds and up

1 Mr. Commons – This is the best turf horse in SoCal, maybe in the U.S.; saves all the ground under Mike Smith and fires late.

4 Compari – Clever back to back turf wins; won the grade 2 Arcadia a while ago so has enough back class.

Long Shot – 5 Jeranimo

Race 11 – 1 1/4 miles, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap, 4-year-olds and up

9 Setsuko – Won easily last out as a first time gelding; nearly won last year when he wasn’t focused, expecting a big year from him.

2 Ultimate Eagle – This speedball had it all his own way in the Strub; the key will be if anyone challenges him early on.

Long Shot – 3 Ron the Greek

Best Bet – 1 Mr. Commons (race 10)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$22.20; Long Shots, 8/2/$30.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 689/176/$1,093.40; Long Shots, 348/50/$599.40; Best Bets, 39/17/$60.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #6 Caleb’s Posse (9/5) in race 9 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Claire’s Song ran third at Gulfstream Park paying $2.20 to show. Stats – 37/29/$270.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick