Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, April 12

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds

5 Wine Stock – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; from the sharp Bob Baffert barn.

2 Moreno’s Mine – His 3-of-4 in the money resume looks good in this spot; claimed last out by Ted West, watch the tote for clues.

Long Shot – 6 Instinctively Bold

Race 2 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Shades of Sugar – FTS from the Doug O’Neill barn; Edwin Maldonado does a fine job putting his horses into the race early.

6 Spending Plan – FTS from the Dean Pederson barn; mystery race with four FTS, watch the tote board for clues.

Long Shot – 3 Stracciatella

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Guest Star – Has run three good races down the hillside course; like the outside post to clock the early speed.

3 D’Obsession – Has run two fine seconds down the hillside turf course; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

Long Shot – 4 Big Note

Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

3 Ondine – Twice beaten favorite at 1/2 odds for Bob Baffert; expect Joe Talamo to give it his best shot to gain more business.

5 Iconic Spirit – Has finished in the money in all three starts at Santa Anita; hopes to get his photograph this time.

Long Shot – 1 Illicit Affair

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Sanibel Sid – Dead late closer from the rail in an exceptionally tough heat; race 5 affects the pick 4, 5 and 6 bets.

9 Our Boy Benjamin – Tepid chalk in the hardest race on the card; reunited with Rafael Bejarano who rode him once before.

Long Shot – 8 Unremitting

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds

7 Laugh At Life – Speedball takes a big class drop for Peter Miller; he likes to put horses on the lead, uses bugboy tonight.

3 Silk Indian – Broke his maiden in a career best effort; facing winners for the first time, always a big step up in class.

Long Shot – 5 Old Man Lake

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $60,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 My Philly Girl – Has run well in all four career starts; thing that bothers me slightly is constant time gaps in her resume.

5 Conkate – Shown solid improvement in two races off the claim by Doug O’Neill; last race, if repeated, would beat these too.

Long Shot – 4 Nihilist

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

1 Devious Chic – Can be a Doug O’Neill late daily double; shown good speed in all three races down the hillside turf course.

10 Don’t Lose Faith – Like the parking lot post in second career start; expect more speed under Edwin Maldonado.

Long Shot – 9 Super Defence

Best Bet – 6 Guest Star (race 3)

Santa Anita Park Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$26.60; Long Shots, 8/1/$4.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.20

Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,056/282/$1,793.50; Long Shots, 524/70/$798.40; Best Bets, 60/26/$106.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #9 Eagle Hall (10/1) in race 5 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Perfect Praise won at Keeneland paying $2.80 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Stats – 58/41/$311.10; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick