Today at Santa Anita Park: May 10, 2014
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
2 Ice Cream Truck – Is 0-for-12, but we saw an 0-for-17 horse win last night; sometimes they just inherit the lead late.
5 Goyan – Ran big off the claim by Jorge Periban; this is a pretty slow group so a repeat of his last gives him a huge shot.
Long Shot – 3 Angel Charge
Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $63,000, Optional claiming $75,000, 3-year-olds and up
4 Trend – Midwest invader joins the Richard Mandella barn; if there is anything left in the gas tank, he’ll find it.
3 Safety Belt – Clearly he is a turf horse by trade; superb debut down the hill, repeat race will get his photo taken again.
Long Shot – 5 Midnight Transfer
Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds
1 Friendswith K Mill – Gets class relief from two graded stakes for this much easier spot; his one 2-turn race at Santa Anita was big.
5 Papa Turf – Last was a truly miserable effort; like the rider switch to Corey Nakatani who is riding in fine form.
Long Shot – 2 Rum Proof
Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
8 Eddie’s First – Like the parking lot post going down the hillside turf course; this one is also cutting back in distance.
4 Smart Journey – Returned off a year layoff with a nice effort in last; contender as long as he doesn’t bounce.
Long Shot – 5 Aftermarketslam
Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
4 Fanny Brice – Big fan of Robertino Diodoro, he wins races wherever he runs; this one taking a necessary drop in class.
2 Hugger of Trees – Been away 5-months since claimed by Bill Spawr; when he gets them good, they usually stay good for a while.
Long Shot – 6 Citizen Jane
Race 6 – 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up
5 Mensa Heat – Wasn’t long ago when he was running in graded stakes races; still has the heart of a champ even at this bottom level.
2 Londinium – Here’s my man Robertino Diodoro again; this one has a sharp dirt record of two wins, two thirds among four dirt starts.
Long Shot – 8 Awesome Indy
Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
6 Nazareth – Claimed by Hector Palma who puts her in the right spot to graduate; Rafael Bejarano will be out a long while due to injury.
8 La Pequena Gigi – Like the cut back in distance; suspect will sit a trip from a parking lot post and come flying fast late.
Long Shot – 7 Kristinite
Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $65,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Tizmetizyou – Gutsy win in career debut down hillside turf course; now returns to the main track where she’s winless in two starts.
3 Maker Or Breaker – Exits four stakes races for this much easier spot; has tactical speed to sit a nice trip, cuts back in distance.
Long Shot – 2 Velvet Mesquite
Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
5 It Is Living Water – The team of A. C. Avila and T. J. Pereira won a popular race on Kentucky Derby day; now they are being investigated.
2 Diablo Caballero – Gave it a good speed effort in career debut; we don’t know if he needs the lead to succeed, we’ll find out tonight.
Long Shot – 9 Troy Story
Best Bet – 8 Eddie’s First (race 4)
Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$23.40; Long Shots, 8/1/$11.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Park Totals – 172/45/$281.80; Long Shots, 83/9/$102.80; Best Bets, 10/2/$5.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Amira’s Prince (5/2) in race 9 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Eastwood ran third at Aqueduct paying $3.30 to show. Stats – 75/43/$397.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick