Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, May 17

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Feel the Charge – Some 4/5 morning line favorites you can single; I wouldn’t suggest it with this one though she surely can win.

4 Valentine’s Reward – Trainer switch to Jesus Mendoza for this; Mario Gutierrez returns to ride so he knows her inside and out.

Long Shot – 2 Class Devine

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Light Striker – Gets class relief to face an easier test; has tactical speed to sit a nice trip throughout.

2 Winningfashion – Chance to be lone early speed on the stretch out; Flavien Prat has been one formidable jockey in the room this meet.

Long Shot – 1 Spirit of Ten

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies andmares, 3-year-olds and up

8 L X Sunrise – She’s has a lot of chances but kepts finishing second best, 10 times in 15 race; one of these days it will be her day.

2 Ms. K J – This pick is simply relying upon Rafael Bejarano; for him to accept a mount like this, he and his agent must know something.

Long Shot – 6 Coronado Cat

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Always a Chance – Claimed by Jeff Mullins and spotted nicely to win; gets reunited with Tyler Baze who rides a lot for the barn.

5 Two Step Flor – A strong trainer angle is returning with the no claim label; it’s a free shot for the barn to win and avoid claim.

Long Shot – 6 Dissension

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Lust for Life – Claimed by Hector Palma and spotted nicely to win; key for me is he hires Rafael Bejarano to ride.

3 Sensational Nikki – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this new career low; Peter Miller taking the blinkers off, very hot barn.

Long Shot – 6 Pay the Debt

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up

2 Forest Chatter – Talk about a horse for the course; he has won all three races down the hillside turf course, the one to beat.

6 U S Citizen – Gets class relief from the grade 3 San Simeon for this; has a solid resume for the hillside turf course.

Long Shot – 1 Ain’t No Other Race 7 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up

9 Peacenik – Claimed by Peter Miller who has the hottest barn in SoCal right now; does have a tough post for an abbreviated sprint.

2 Pepper Sweet – Last seen in September as a full horse, now a first time gelding; I’ll let Rafael Bejarano do the handicapping for me.

Long Shot – 3 Parliamentarian

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Somethings Unusual – Michael McCarthy is flying under the radar; he is a Todd Pletcher disciple and figures to get better stock soon.

6 Tosheen – Beaten favorite has some good efforts down the hillside turf course; could be lone early speed if sent hard from the gate.

Long Shot – 3 Formally Wild

Race 9 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

4 Mr. Pucci – FTS from the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; bullet workouts and Rafael Bejarano spell another live one from the barn.

6 Bellamy Concerto – Been knocking on the door and now switches back to dirt; Flavien Prat has been Richard Mandella’s rider of choice.

Long Shot – 7 Hook ‘Em Kurt

Best Bet – 2 Forest Chatter (race 6)

Santa Anita Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 21/5/$31.40; Long Shots, 10/3/$27.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Meet Totals – 231/60/$361.00; Long Shots, 113/19/$235.40; Best Bets, 14/6/$24.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #7 Meshell (9/5) in race 8 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Watsdachances won at Pimlico paying $6.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $3.00 to show. Stats – 70/46/$346.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick