HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time Noon

Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $63,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

Pavarotti – Well meant baby has been second best in both career starts; he figures to see a lot of pace and a perfect stalking trip.

Tiztime – Like this potential speedball on the stretch out first time around 2-turns; may hop on the engine and never look back.

Long Shot – Fortunate Victory

Race 2 – 1 1/2 miles (turf), Purse $70,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

Big Jon – Was unable to get covered up last time and faltered badly in the stretch run; Kent D is sure to tuck in behind horses today.

Really Indian – Ridden by the best underrated jockey in the U.S., Dominguez; Drysdale colt ran like a short horse off a 7-month hiatus.

Long Shot – Peter and Zoe

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $61,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

G. I. Betty – Typical Headley-Solis FTS in last, walked out of the gate, then came flying late; most improve second time out, will be tough.

Geri Hears An Echo – FTS from top rated Sherman barn, has the pedigree to come screaming out of the gate; like that NoCal Bze will ride.

Long Shot – Themis Valentine

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $49,000, Claiming $32,000, 4-year-olds and up

American All Star – Like the outside parking lot post going down the hillside turf course; has lots of back class to run over these late.

Witness This – Takes a subtle, but important, drop in class to face easier; will sit a trip inside and try to find a seam turning for home.

Long Shot – Celtic Sword

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs, $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup Handicap, 4-year-olds and up

Smokey Stover – Has developed into one of the best sprinters in the country; he has proven he does not need the lead to succeed.

Greg’s Gold – Sharp comeback win off a 19-month sabbatical; Hofmans is hoping the big effort didn’t take too much out of his sprinter.

Long Shot – Sailors Sunset

Race 6 – 1 1/8th miles, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, 3-year-olds

Liquidity – The big Derby preps seemingly go to either O’Neill or Pletcher; can sit a perfect stalking trip behind speedball Black Seventeen.

Sam P. – Pletcher colt is coming on fast and could join an army of stablemates in the Derby field; Dominguez will sit and come on late.

Long Shot – Black Seventeen

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf), $100,000 Providencia, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Mystic Soul – Ran like she was too fresh last time coming off a 3-month hiatus; Mullins claim still has a big upside as she begins to mature.

Valbenny – Logical chalk has run two visually impressive wins in the U.S., albeit in average times; will sit in arrears and make one run.

Long Shot – Courtwood

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $65,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

Power Shift – Perfect trip win last time, now cutting back in distance and seeing an even faster pace to chase; will be cruising by late.

Greatest Hope – In a race packed with early speed, I suspect this guy may be the speed of the speed; chance in a very difficult race.

Long Shot – Jitterbug Ball

Race 9 – 1 mile (turf), $150,000 Arcadia Handicap, 4-year-olds and up

Icy Atlantic – Small edge for Pletcher charge in an incredibly difficult heat; the winner will need a perfect trip, vote for Dominguez.

Milk It Mick – Tepid chalk in a real dart throw race; gets class relief off a sequence of grade 1 stakes, still its no picnic today.

Long Shot – Hendrix

Race 10 – 6 furlongs, Purse $40,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

Twin Turbo – In another wide open race, this guy has run much better on dirt than turf; if you hit today’s pick 6, you’ll really earn it.

Breakfastatbully’s – Both his last two races are pretty good for this class level; at 12/1 odds, he offers as much value as any in the field.

Long Shot – Golden Royal

Race 11 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $61,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Laureldean Express – Got a good test drive in last in her U.S. debut; figures to move forward today, has proven turf form from Europe.

Primal Cat – Tepid chalk gets class relief off a Turf Paradise stakes race; she ran fine on turf two back, strictly the one to beat.

Long Shot – Her Entourage

Best Bet – Pavarotti (race 1)

Santa Anita Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$18.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$8.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals – 1,213/322/$2,122.00; Long Shots, 607/70/$937.20; Best Bets, 70/28/$116.40