HORSE RACING: Today at Santa Anita, Nov. 2
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA
By Richard Eng
Post Time 11:15 a.m.
Race 1 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $70,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up
11 Quail Hill – Could be lone early speed if left alone; if he can click off 24 second quarters, they may not catch him.
6 Saint Loup – Makes his U.S. debut in a first level allowance; Euro speed is not California speed, so expect him to settle early.
Long Shot – 1 Press Baron
Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $70,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
7 Big Tiz – Came back off a 8-month layoff smoking; ran a winning race in defeat, repeat effort will beat these.
2 Conkate – Ran a career best in last; the question is whether he can repeat that race or not, competitive with these.
Long Shot – 10 Miss Oops
Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $70,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up
2 Plenny of Henny – Should see a wicked fast early pace to chase; steady improvement since joining the Bill Spawr barn.
1 Got Even – Tepid chalk has a ton of early speed; gets class relief off a strong second in the Cal Cup Classic.
Long Shot – 12 Malibu Rum
Race 4 – 6 furlongs, $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, 2-year-olds
5 Super Ninety Nine – Bob Baffert won this race last year with Secret Circle; Baffert is overdue to have a big Breeders’ Cup.
3 Merit Man – Exploded in last with a fast win in the Conway; high Beyer suggest he’ll be the heavy favorite.
Long Shot – 7 Sweet Shirley Mae
Race 5 – 1 3/4 miles, $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, 3-year-olds and up
1 Atigun – Ran well in marathon Belmont Stakes, Travers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup; this is a strong gallopers race.
7 Not Abroad – Under the radar distance horse based at Delaware Park; leap of faith in jockey Nick Petro in the spotlight.
Long Shot – 12 Worth Repeating
Race 6 – 1 mile (turf), $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Fillies, 2-year-olds
6 Watsdachances – Won in Ireland without Lasix, so hopefully that counts today; she was dynamic in two NYRA turf route stakes.
3 Sky Lantern – Precocious Irish filly goes 2-turns for the first time; she has excelled without Lasix, a big plus tonight.
Long Shot – 5 Spring Venture
Race 7 – 1 1/16th miles, $2-million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Fillies, 2-year-olds
8 Kauai Katie – She has yet to go around 2-turns; very fast filly has a deceptively late knock out punch too.
2 Executiveprivilege – Home field advantage for this Bob Baffert amazon; not very flashy, all she does is win.
Long Shot – 3 Spring in the Air
Race 8 – 1 1/4 miles (turf), $2-million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 The Fugue – Her last four races have been against some of the very best in England; these Euro stars just need a trip.
9 Marketing Mix – Consistently strong filly got a perfect prep in the Rodeo Drive; one of the toughest races on today’s card.
Long Shot – 2 Zagora
Race 9 – 1 1/8th miles, $2-million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
6 Royal Delta – Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is great at pinpointing one race to win; this has been her target all year.
5 Awesome Feather – She has stepped it up a notch since joining the Chad Brown barn; 10-for-1 lifetime, has perfect tactical speed.
Long Shot – 7 Include Me Out
Race 10 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), $150,000 The Twilight Derby, 3-year-olds
8 My Best Brother – Has developed into one of the best 3-YO turf horses in the U.S.; speed and firm ground make him the one to catch.
2 Speaking of Which – First time on Lasix and 10 pounds off are two big plusses; has a powerful late kick, the one to beat.
Long Shot – 7 Grandeur
Best Bet – 1 Atigun (race 5)
Santa Anita Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/1/$7.00; Long Shots, 8/2/$38.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals – 357/84/$616.40; Long Shots, 180/32/$353.60; Best Bets, 21/6/$117.40
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Neck ‘N Neck (3/1) in race 9 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Oh Carole ran out at Churchill Downs. Stats – 162/111/$979.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick