Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Feb. 15
Race 1 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 4-year-olds and up
4 Omar Little – Woke up last time racing first time for a price tag; facing an incredible slow field in the opener.
5 Chat n’ Cut – The field is so slow that the FTS deserve a second look; watch the tote board for additional clues.
Long Shot – 1 No Ez Money
Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
4 Sidepocket Champ – Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; stretching out around 2-turns, should be forwardly placed.
1 Salutos Amigos – In a 2-turn mile, the rail horse has an advantage with short run into the turn; will save all the ground.
Long Shot – 2 Caramuru
Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
2 Rangi – Showed nice improvement first off the claim for Richard Baltas; he’s an underrated trainer under any circumstance.
6 Presenceofagenius – Like the cut back in distance and the switch to Rafael Bejarano; always finds a good position.
Long Shot – 4 Brokered
Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Starter allowance $12,500, 4-year-olds and up
6 Seeking the Sherif – Huge race off the claim by Ron Ellis; he doesn’t take many, but has shown many times his special skills.
1 Master Chef – Loves the Santa Anita oval, third start in the Jerry Hollendorfer barn; will stick inside and save ground.
Long Shot – 5 Close to the Edge
Race 5 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
3 Bury Pacer – Was favored in U.S. debut and ran well; big shot as long as he doesn’t suffer from Euro bounce syndrome.
2 Cowtownmary – Offered plenty of early speed in his career debut; Rafael Bejarano prefers to sit early, let others lead.
Long Shot – 5 Big Medicine Man
Race 6 – 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
4 The Admiral – I like cut backs, especially when they have some early speed; Bob Baffert has so many 3-YOs on the KY Derby trail.
2 Footstepsinbronze – Interesting rider switch to Mike Smith; did everything but win last time in a solid debut effort.
Long Shot – 7 Rough Passage
Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), $75,000 Sweet Life, Fillies, 3-year-olds
3 Susans Express – Won the Cal Cup Oaks at 65/1 in last; Kent Desormeaux has been making his few opportunities count.
4 Famous Alice – Did not run badly as a beaten chalk in last; has only 2 races under her belt, plenty of room for improvement.
Long Shot – 7 Bajan
Race 8 – 1 1/8th miles, $200,000 Santa Maria, Fillies andmares, 4-year-olds and up
5 Let Faith Arise – Tiny edge in an incredibly difficult heat; just got edged late in last by Spellbound who rallied from last.
2 Fiftyshadesofhay – Had a perfect set-up in last and still couldn’t cash in; dangerous, but is starting to underachieve.
Long Shot – Stanwyck
Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
7 Teacher Teacher – Ran a winning race for this class last time out; need only to repeat that try to be double tough in here.
5 Itsabeautifulday – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom rung; need not be much to earn a paycheck.
Long Shot – 9 Kid Rollins
Best Bet – 7 Teacher Teacher (race 9)
Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/2/$13.60; Long Shots, 8/2/$12.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Park Totals – 524/153/$945.20; Long Shots, 260/31/$345.20; Best Bets, 32/14/$61.20
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Enterprising (5/2) in race 8 at Golden Gate Fields. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Owl Moon ran out at Oaklawn Park. Stats – 29/15/$149.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick