Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Jan. 25

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

4 Nooten – Showed big improvement with HOF rider Mike Smith taking over; chance to sit a trip and come firing fast late.

1 Well Measured – FTS from the red hot Peter Miller barn; watch the tote board for additional clues, exits bullet workouts.

Long Shot – 5 Even to the Moon

Race 2 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

2 Woodmans Luck – Dead late closer got up in the final stride last time; has proven he’s friends with this class level.

9 – Bench Light – Tepid chalk has the toughest post with a short run to the first turn; suspect Joe Talamo will take back anyway.

Long Shot – 8 Volkonsky

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

5 Seeking Asylum – Claimed by the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer off a nice second; dangerous with even one step of improvement.

11 Johns Journey – Did everything but win last time in a gritty try; the key is if he repeats the race or bounces to the moon.

Long Shot – 7 Head South

Race 4 – 7 furlongs, $200,000 Santa Monica, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

6 Scherzinger – Go for a price with a dead late closer in a race jammed with early speed; Mike Smith is riding unconscious now.

2 Teddy’s Promise – Logical chalk has one chink in her armour; the elongated sprint distance is not her best despite 3-of-9 wins.

Long Shot – 4 Heir Kitty

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), $125,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

10 Tribal Spy – Let’s see if we can get this speedball wire to wire; the key will be how fast the first quarter mile is.

8 Unusual Hottie – Was overmatched in the grade 3 Maddy last out; back with Cal-breds, she should return to form nicely.

Long Shot – 11 Ciao Bella Luna

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Sea John’s Spirit – Did not like the turf in last, now returns to the main track; 6-YO mare is fast enough to dust these off.

5 Tribal Torch – NoCal invader from D Wayne Baker; adding blinkers on and Tyler Baze, not Russell Baze, for the ride.

Long Shot – 3 Heavens Stairway

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf), $200,000 California Cup Oaks, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

4 Alasharcky – Has won 2 in a row in NoCal, ready for this richer test; Steve Specht brings his own rider Frank Alvarado.

14 Anniversary Kitty – Must overcome a difficult post with a short run to the first turn; key is her devasting closing kick.

Long Shot – 6 Princess Genevieve

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, $125,000 California Cup Sprint, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

6 Cyclometer – She is a proven performer with her own Cal-bred kind; he is best at 6-furlongs and her in Arcadia main track.

10 Big Macher – Has risen from humble beginnings to deserve this rich shot; just keeps getting better and better.

Long Shot – 1 Follini

Race 9 – 1 1/8th miles (turf), $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

1 Summer Hit – They are going to have a tough time handling this speedball; he has one gear and I don’t expect others to duel.

7 Jules Journey – Gary Stevens doesn’t ride many, but always makes them count; will sit midpack and time his late rally.

Long Shot – 9 China Prince

Race 10 – 1 1/16th miles, $250,000 California Cup Derby, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

7 California Chrome – Was very impressed by his win in the King Glorius; stretches out around 2-turns, but he has some talent.

4 Tamarando – Logical chalk seldom runs a bad one; exits the grade 1 Cash Call Futurity for this much easier task.

Long Shot – 2 Life Is a Joy

Best Bet – 7 Sea John’s Spirit (race 6)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$13.80; Long Shots, 6/1/$9.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 326/101/$615.00; Long Shots, 160/20/$212.20; Best Bets, 20/9/$37.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #6 Beat the Blues (4/1) in race 8 at Oaklawn Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Yankee Gambler ran out at Fair Grounds. Stats – 19/11/$84.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick