Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Oct. 26

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Maiden special weights, Purse $47,000, 2-year-olds

3 Code West – Strong second to Title Contender who will run next in the BC Juvenile; shortest price on the card, by far.

5 Inflamed Spirit – FTS from Bob Baffert; can definitely see a Baffert cold exacta or quinella, at the least.

Long Shot – 6 The Whole Deal

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Roman Charity – Looks like the Mark Glatt invitational; they run different styles so don’t expect a dumb speed duel.

1 Filly Power – She is the Mark Glatt speedball of this uncoupled entry; sets the pace while Roman Charity will close.

Long Shot – 5 Real Housewife

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $32,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Drift King – Mike Mitchell barn is heating up after slumbering for a while; lots of his horses rested over the Fairplex meet.

3 Cherokee Heaven – Shown steady improvement in two starts off a year hiatus; third start here can be the charm.

Long Shot – 6 Off the Wall

Race 4 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Claiming $10,000, 3-year-olds

6 Hammer the Bay – Huge red flag class drop from O/C $40K to $10K; if there is anything left, this looks too easy.

4 Put It There – Another sliding down the claiming ladder; third start off the claim by Dean Pederson.

Long Shot – 7 The Bien’s Gift

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $47,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

9 Marcyjane – Typical green debut, slow early, fast late; big rider switch to Garrett Gomez for the money shot.

10 Eileen’s Dream – Been well bet in all five career starts; really improved when switched to the grass course.

Long Shot – 4 Copperopolis

Race 6 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $50,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Planet Sunshine – Three very close losses in a row, frustrating; reunited with Victor Espinoza today.

7 Liberty Cap – Ran too bad to be true in last as a beaten favorite; Calder shippers normally run well in SoCal.

Long Shot – 2 Tweebster

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 English Rhythm – Turf Paradise invader showed she belonged last time out; grass is clearly her preferred surface.

6 Purim’s Dancer – Tom Proctor shipper was a much improved animal on grass in last; we’ll find out if she is legit.

Long Shot – 9 Oscillator

Race 8 – 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Miss Communication – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; draw a line thru her last debacle.

6 Lady Shazzam – Showed good early speed in last and just failed to last; facing a tougher test tonight.

Long Shot – 1 Miss Bold Topper

Best Bet – 3 Code West (race 1)

Santa Anita Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$19.20; Long Shots, 8/2/$30.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.00

Santa Anita Totals – 290/66/$510.00; Long Shots, 149/27/$284.80; Best Bets, 17/4/$12.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Trend (3/1) in race 7 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Icon Ike ran third at Keeneland paying $2.80 to show. Stats – 158/109/$953.90; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick