Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, March 2

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time noon

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

8 Storm Fighter – Big run last time in a sprint; stretching out around 2-turns for the first time.

1 Warren’s Nicholas – Has been around 2-turns before; has no early speed, thus will be rallying late.

Long Shot – 4 Magnum Force

Race 2 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

6 Wednesday – Showed good speed in her turf debut last out; returns off a brief 3-month hiatus.

9 Foxy Boss – Tepid chalk ran a solid second in last at 49/1 odds; won’t be anywhere near that today.

Long Shot – 5 Kyriaki

Race 3 – 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

2 Prized by Buck – Claimed by Peter Miller and spotted nicely to win first out; big rider switch too to Joe Talamo.

7 Captain Beau – Returned in last from a 18-month hiatus; got a test drive in last, expect improvement here.

Long Shot – 8 Agents Bruce

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Tizmetizyou – Liked her one dirt start two races ago; solid second to Branding who is stakes caliber.

8 J K’s Mischief – Rough trip in debut under Mario Gutierrez; Doug O’Neill adding blinkers on for more control.

Long Shot – 3 Jetbird

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), $75,000 The Baffle, 3-year-olds

9 Caught Napping – Sight unseen since a powerhouse third in the Oak Tree Juvenile at Del Mar; key is how tight he is for this.

5 Procurement – Dead late closer has gotten the job done twice now; good sign he won down the hill in last.

Long Shot – 3 Amarish

Race 6 – 1 mile, $250,000 Las Virgenes, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Fiftyshadesofhay – Bob Baffert had her razor sharp to upset the Santa Ysabel; could be in the Kentucky Oaks down the road.

5 Beholder – She ran poorly in return when caught up in a speed duel; Garrett Gomez needs to settle and let her fire.

Long Shot – 8 Heir Kitty

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Press Baron – Tough trip in last, now Mike Smith takes over; this is clearly an easy class for him to handle.

2 You Know I Know – Has won 3 times at this mile turf distance; suspect he’ll take back and make one run.

Long Shot – 7 Power Foot

Race 8 – 7 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Sir Bond – Upset chance in this wide open affair; has tactical speed to sit a decent trip.

5 Rousing Sermon – Gets class relief after a rough summer chasing better; needs a confidence booster.

Long Shot – 8 Zackn’mat

Race 9 – 1 mile (turf) $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe, 4-year-olds and up

8 Mr. Commons – Could not find the winner’s circle last year despite good races; switch to Corey Nakatani for better karma.

3 Suggestive Boy – Powerhouse win in the Arcadia over many of these; turf mile specialist.

Long Shot – 5 Akkadian

Race 10 – 1 1/4 miles, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap, 4-year-olds and up

1 Ron the Greek – Huge win in the Sunshine Millions Classic; has run twice before at Santa Anita, Big Cap and BC Classic.

9 Game On Dude – He won the Big Cap two years ago; a trip to Dubai kind of messed up his season last year.

Long Shot – 8 Stephanoatsee

Race 11 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

6 Bad Behavior – FTS from Bob Baffert has the look of a fast sprinter; watch the tote board for clues.

1 Bench Press – Two thirds and was well bet in both starts; saves all the ground under Victor Espinoza.

Long Shot – 5 Storm Power

Best Bet – 8 Mr. Commons (race 9)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$13.60; Long Shots, 8/1/$10.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.80

Santa Anita Park Totals – 672/175/$1,149.10; Long Shots, 331/43/$485.80; Best Bets, 38/15/$60.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #10 Forty Tales (5/2) in race 10 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Metal Firecracker won at Laurel Park paying $14.60 to win, $7.80 to place and $4.40 to show. Stats – 35/26/$203.10; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick