Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, March 24

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 King Maya – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom rung; his last race is clearly fast enough to win here.

2 Congregationalist – Nine tries means he is getting a bit long in the tooth; good early speed in last before tiring late.

Long Shot – 3 Porchetto

Race 2 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up

8 Just Fishin – Did everything but win last time in a strong second; Gary Stevens continues to ride in excellent form.

3 Sumerian – Should get a ton of value with Kayla Stra riding; she can win this if the 5-YO gelding is good enough.

Long Shot – 4 Dynamize

Race 3 – 1 mile, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

2 National – I like when a horse wins while running a lower Beyer speed figure; tells me there may be a lot more in the gas tank.

6 Arcodoro – Figures to try speedball tactics from the get go; his dirt resume isn’t much to speak of, but neither is the field.

Long Shot – 1 Honour the Deputy

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Chinese Praise – Showed solid speed two back, but came from off the pace in last; second both times, may be his turn tonight.

7 Warren’s Dr. Boo – Was put on the engine in last and went wire to wire; should be the blueprint for his effort tonight.

Long Shot – 3 Danger Ranger

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $58,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Marinda – Ran last time despite a surface switch from turf to dirt; he won down the hill two races ago, Garrett Gomez takes over.

3 Madre Luna – Outran his 7/1 odds in last in a strong try; he won down the hill seemingly 10 years ago.

Long Shot – 8 Deity

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

6 Shining Son – Doug O’Neill has an uncoupled entry and both are live; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW.

10 Tizaplayer – This is the other O’Neill, a FTS; been working bullets and don’t mind the parking lot post in debut.

Long Shot – 8 Ten Tequilas

Race 7 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 8 feet), $150,000 Santa Ana, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Tiz Flirtatious – Is nearly perfect over Santa Anita sod; suspect can be value of the favorite will be grossly overbet.

1 Lady of Shamrock – John Sadler has big plans for this filly in 2013; this is the first step so we’ll see how cranked up she is.

Long Shot – 5 A Jealous Woman

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

6 Island Sunset – Regressed in last after a big effort two races ago; that is the race they’ll try and repeat tonight.

1 Obsess – Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; never had a chance in last, this $25K level are his friends for sure.

Long Shot -2 Real Conundrum

Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

10 Atta Girl Alma – Richard Baltas barn has very quietly had a solid meet; this filly is showing steady improvement.

9 Too Many Rules – Tepid chalk does what I like to see, cut back in distance; figures to find her best stride in the lane.

Long Shot – 8 Tickle Again

Best Bet – 1 King Maya (race 1)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/8/$54.20; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60

Santa Anita Park Totals – 887/231/$1,501.50; Long Shots, 438/57/$658.20; Best Bets, 51/19/$74.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Mr. Prankster (5/2) in race 1 at Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Ruler On Ice ran out at Aqueduct. Stats – 48/34/$259.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick