Today at Santa Anita Park: April 20, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

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

4 Wine Country Wanda – Her last race, if repeated, would absolutely smoke these; key is for her to not bounce.

2 New Nature – She is nothing if not consistent with her speed figures; maybe her foes will finally run down to her level.

Long Shot – 5 She’s Flush

Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Mary Helen’s Storm – Did everything but win last time in a sharp try; repeat race puts him right back in the hunt.

5 Cuneo – Tepid chalk in this low level claimer; key vote comes from leading rider Rafael Bejarano for Mike Pender.

Long Shot – 6 Warren’s Tyler S.

Race 3 – 1 mile, Purse $40,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

3 Irish Surf – Chance to upset considering he’s been facing tougher foes; Jose Valdivia is much better than shown.

4 Abbey Vale – Impressive U.S. debut win for Mike Mitchell; Mike is retiring today and would love to go out with one last winner.

Long Shot – 5 Hear the Ghost

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Faith Hope Love – Case of seconditis, but her races are relatively fast; tries blinkers on to break down the door.

5 Spy Girl – Showed high cheese at Del Mar before tiring late; suspect she faced much tougher foes down near San Diego.

Long Shot – 8 Enchanted Fortune

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming 475,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

11 Nazareth – Like the parking lot post going down the hillside turf course; turf rail is out 15 feet so speed is an asset.

9 Secret Appeal – Big debut run down the hill makes her the favorite; key will be if she bounces or moves forward a step.

Long Shot – 8 Ann’s Gold

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up

8 Seeking Asylum – Facing winners off nice win in last; is spotted well to compete, picks up 7-pound bugboy too.

7 Happy Idea – Rafael Bejarano had his choice of mounts and lands her for Vann Belvoir; that alone makes him a target.

Long Shot – 4 Good Samurai

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

8 Rangi – With the turf rail out 15 feet, his early speed will come in handy; been a worthwhile $50K claim by Richard Baltas.

1 Circa’sgoldengear – Big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; has shown some fondness for the hill.

Long Shot – 9 A Toast to You

Race 8 – 7 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

3 Beholder – She looks like a deserving 2/5 shot facing these; classy filly will be a single in most Pick 6 and Pick 4 tickets.

5 Eblouissante – Zenyatta’s sister has the impossible task of running in her big shadow; big time gaps between each start.

Long Shot – 2 Moulin de Mougin

Race 9 – 1 1/4 miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $32,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Bench Light – Huge win first off the claim by John Sadler; if he repeats the race he figures to beat these today too.

7 Affrettando – Huge rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; marathon distance is a pure galloper’s race.

Best Bet – 4 Wine Country Wanda (race 1)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$40.20; Long Shots, 8/1/$10.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80

Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,117/317/$2,033.60; Long Shots, 550/79/$847.20; Best Bets, 68/32/$146.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Madame Giry (2/1) in race 8 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Long River ran out at Charles Town. Stats – 64/35/$346.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick