Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Jan. 3

Post Time 12:30 p.m. 

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds
2 Casino Fever – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; from HOF trainer Bob Baffert, he actually wins a high percentage of maiden claiming.
5 Paschalitsa – Another taking the biggest class drop from MSW to maiden claiming; showed marked improvement in last with blinkers on, finished inches behind the chalk.
Long Shot – 8 Lady Wedge
Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
7 Take It Easyplease – Has good early speed, a parking lot post and stretches out to this elongated sprint distance; no one is riding better than Santiago Gonzalez.
4 Alwazabridesmaid – This is a class drop because she has been protected in her first four career starts; HOF trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is always tough on these dropdowns.
Long Shot – 1 Zanab
Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, 3-year-olds
6 One More Round – Your edge over me is seeing to tote board action on the three FTS; they are all from good barns and could very well be live, check it out for me.
5 Electrifying – HOF trainer Bob Baffert puts this one up for sale after just one career start; he is truly one of the toughest barns to claim from in SoCal.
Long Shot – 4 Alaskan Cruise
Race 4 – 6 ½ furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up
5 Diablo Caballero – Has had 11 starts which can easily point to career maiden status; however, this one finished first two races ago and was disqualified.
4 At Ease – If you have been following me for 18 years, you know I like cutback horses; start of the Pick 6 with a $80K carryover, licking wounds from Saturday.
Long Shot – 6 Ace Deuce
Race 5 – 6 ½ furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds
7 Street Vision – Gets class relief from two stakes races for this first level condition race; is reunited with Rafael Bejarano who is riding in good form.
1 I Will Score – Exits an impressive debut win at Los Alamitos; not sure who or what he beat, but he did it soundly, draws the rail where Mike Smith can save ground.
Long Shot – 2 Rockin Bayou
Race 6 – 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds
1 Faithfully – FTS from HOF trainer Bob Baffert must be respected; she cost $700K, has excellent 2-turn pedigree and gets the main man Rafael Bejarano to ride.
4 Dreamy Art – Not happy with her descending Beyer speed figures, but she did run fast enough in debut to test Pretty N Cool; chance to rebound to a higher number.
Long Shot – 2 Edgy Girl
Race 7 – 6 ½ furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), $200,000 Monrovia, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
11 Ageless – She is clearly one of the best turf sprinters in the country; her race in the Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint must be seen to believe, amazing try without winning.
6 Shrinking Violet – Draw a line thru her Kentucky Downs debacle and her turf sprint resume looks a lot better; mare is the defending champion of the Monrovia, respect.
Long Shot – 12 Baruta
Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up
9 Rolo Tomaci – Tiny edge in one of the most evenly matched fields on the card; is cutting back in distance, an angle I always like, Richard Baltas barn is super hot too.
4 Real Big Deal – Like the cutback in distance where he should be finishing better in the lane; switch to Corey Nakatani who says he is moving his tack to Oaklawn Park soon.
Long Shot – 5 Gutsy Ruler
Race 9 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $45,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 Husband’s Folly – Could be a Corey Nakatani daily double worth playing too; will save all the ground and he remains one of the best grass riders in the country.
10 Hobbits Hero – Would like him more if he didn’t have this parking lot post in a mile on turf; the turf rail is out 10 feet, so it will test Rafael Bejarano.
Long Shot – 7 Tattenham
Best Bet – 7 Street Vision (race 5)
Santa Anita Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/1/$5.60; Long Shots, 9/1/$12.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals – 98/18/$114.00; Long Shots, 51/6/$56.80; Best Bets, 5/0/$0
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #7 Amoral (5/2) in race 4 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Mountain Music Man ran out at Gulfstream Park. Simo stats – 6/0/$0; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick