Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, Jan. 10

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds

3 Tiz Minister – Clearly has the best resume and speed figures among this group; best stride will come in the latter stages.

2 Greeley Awesome – Exciting 9-lengths win, over what we’re not sure of; improving sort for Doug O’Neill.

Long Shot – 1 Ebony Gold

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

1 Quick Wampum – Speed and the rail can be a winning combination; tiny edge in a very difficult heat.

7 Forty Paces – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low level; need not be much to earn a solid paycheck.

Long Shot – 3 Magic Mama

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

6 Valley of Kings – Strong SoCal debut when second in last; figures to improve second time out for Bob Hess.

3 Parliamentarian – Good horses usually have good names, I like this name; been away a full year for Bruce Headley.

Long Shot – 4 Hi Chooch

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up

5 Bet On Victor – Returns to the $16K level that he last won at; should find these are his friends tonight.

4 Half Dome Dude – Exploded in the lane easily beating a motley crew in last; big class rise, at least we know he is sharp.

Long Shot – 1 Hard Bill

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $45,000, Claiming $50,000, Fillies, 4-year-olds

6 Blushing Martha – Has won 2-of-4 start on grass; this is another tough heat, edge maybe to cagey Rafael Bejarano.

10 Belle Passe – Tepid chalk draws a favorable parking lot post down the hillside turf course; tactical speed to gain position early.

Long Shot – 9 River Kiss

Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

5 Tribal Custom – I like when horses win in last with a much slower Beyer; suspect she can ran back to the better fig two back.

1 Funny Gal – If my top 3 choices come to the wire together, Trevor Denman may be tongue tied; exiting two sharp victories.

Long Shot – 6 Tribal Gal

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $65,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 4-year-olds and up

5 Willyconker – Great claim by Doug O’Neill a while back; third start off the layoff points to an improving cycle here.

3 Clubhouse Ride – Stretching out in distance to one mile; suspect Aaron Gryder will sit chilly and make one brush.

Long Shot – 1 Key Decision

Race 8 – 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

1 Unusual Darling – I like betting horses that didn’t finish last time out; handicappers tend to draw a line thru them, prematurely.

9 Zerbinetta – Will be way overbet off an amazing race last time; started poorly, trailed, then came flying late to just miss.

Long Shot – 2 Mending Wall

Best Bet – 3 Tiz Minister (race 1)

Santa Anita Park Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/7/$69.80; Long Shots, 9/2/$20.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80

Santa Anita Park Totals – 146/38/$271.00; Long Shots, 74/14/$175.60; Best Bets, 8/4/$15.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #4 Centrique (6/5) in race 5 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Sheza Classy Lady ran third at Aqueduct paying $2.20 to show. Stats – 6/3/$19.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick