HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $43,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Sangay – Second time out for Headley, typically a strong maiden angle; barn ended Del Mar red hot with Solis rallying wide.
Jane Doe – Outran her 18-1 odds in debut with a sharp second; tiny edge to Headley filly improving more in her second start.
Long Shot – Freedom Summit
Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $14,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds
Conclave – Claimed by Mitchell and shoved down our throats on the class drop; Baze is feeling good off a great Fairplex meet.
Asteri – Claimed by Cerin and he’s doing the same thing Mitchell is, dropping down in class; has enormous back class too.
Long Shot – Thunder One
Race 3 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 2-year-olds
Smokin While Flyin – Was well bet in debut and ran evenly for fourth; lively rider switch to Nakatani signals trainer intent.
Richer Gear – Tepid chalk in a race where you’ll need to study the tote board; exits a bullet work and an OK debut effort.
Long Shot – Ruud Boy
Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $27,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
Key Maker – O’Neill took advantage of rich Del Mar purses to make money on this claim; not as big a class drop as it seems.
Will – Claimed by Knapp and well spotted to run another good race; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip, has back class too.
Long Shot – Gold Trim
Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds
A. P. Double Cat – I went with two FTS from Hall of Fame trainers over some dubious looking fillies; bred to be any kind.
Unspoken Fur – This filly is from the Frankel barn and is also bred to be any kind of horse; doubt if you’ll see 10-1 on her.
Long Shot – Miss Fremont
Race 6 – 7 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Ask Sam – Not sure what Nakatanai was doing on her last time, but notice main man Baze takes over; a super debut victory.
Purrfectly Fitting – Like the turn back in distance from a 2-turn mile for this elongated sprint; will be grinding it out.
Long Shot – Intangaroo
Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $47,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Model – Don’t like to pick MSW grads, but she looks like stakes material for Drysdale; others around have come back to win.
Oakhill Girl – You could do worse than picking Nakatani in a turf race; will save all the ground and come charging hard late.
Long Shot – Tizfiz
Race 8 – 7 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
Moonlit Habit – Like the turn back in distance from routes for this elongated sprint; adds blinkers on, will be grinding late.
Point of Impact – Baffert cull taking an enormous class drop to face these; his race two back is competitive with these.
Long Shot – General Bueno
Best Bet – Ask Sam (race 7)
Santa Anita Wednesday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$22.00; Long Shots, 8/2/$16.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals – 16/3/$22.00; Long Shots, 8/2/$16.00; Best Bets, 1/0/$0