HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time noon
Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up
Orientation Hall – Stretching out around 2-turns for the first time; Mandella adding blinkers on, expect more speed today.
Father Tim – Tepid chalk in an uninspiring opener; Hofmans barn has been ice cold for a while, like that Gomez takes the call.
Long Shot – Kalookan Boss
Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), $75,000 Wishing Well Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Society Hostess – Gomez has a chance to complete a chalky daily double; he’s ridden her to multiple victories in the past.
La Tee – Speedball will try to steal off and wire the field; should be tighter today in second start off a 6-month hiatus.
Long Shot – Rockella
Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Simply Put – Taking a step up in class from M/C $100k to MSW; she ran fast last time off the claim by Sadler, she must repeat.
Arboreta – Did a classic pop and stop in her career debut; Frankel babies seldom win first time, expect some improvement.
Long Shot – Distinctive Dixie
Race 4 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $57,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds
Rhetorically – Typically I don’t pick MSW graduates facing winners the first time; he looks like a different animal on turf.
Shore Do – Frankel takes a step back with this colt after being overmatched in the Cash Call Futurity; his only win came on sod.
Long Shot – Pistol Pete Afleet
Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Bold Cleo – Claimed by Becerra after a lethargic effort in last; mare is better than that and can surprise at a square price.
La Swing – Speedy sort takes a drastic red flag drop for Gary Stute; his stable’s been white hot so who is to question him.
Long Shot – Early Anna
Race 6 – 1 mile, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
Processor’s Turf – Was bothered badly in last, probably costing him the win; Gomez stays loyal to Pletcher on the stretch out.
Street Royale – Lost to a highly rated group last time out; suspect he might be able to outrun his generous 8/1 morning line.
Long Shot – Sangaree
Race 7 – 7 furlongs, Purse $52,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
Rudeameanie – Speedball proved he loves synthetic surfaces; he looks like lone speed, the most dangerous angle in racing.
Hurry Up Austin – Gets big time class relief from two graded stakes for this; negative is he doesn’t like to win races.
Long Shot – Cherokee Tear
Race 8 – 7 furlongs, $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Hystericalady – This elongated sprint may be her best distance; she won’t need the lead to succeed, awful tough in here.
Overly Tempting – Taking a big step up in class to run in her first stakes; Headley has handled her like fine china.
Long Shot – Missvinski
Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds
Ricky El Corredor – Ran a deceptively good race in debut; note he finished sixth by 6-lengths, the winner won by 5-lengths.
Skimming On Ice – Tepid chalk in a very difficult finale; showed improvement in last, but is certainly not a single play.
Long Shot – Bear Mountain
Best Bet – Hystericalady (race 8)
Santa Anita Saturday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 19/9/$60.00; Long Shots, 10/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60
Santa Anita Totals – 323/79/$571.00; Long Shots, 165/24/$290.20; Best Bets, 19/9/$37.60
