Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, March 15

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, 3-year-olds

4 J Kat – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; needs to show a solid step forward still.

5 Distillery – Nice effort in last, first time for a price tag; suspect the $75K ticket is too pricey for anyone to get claimed.

Long Shot – 9 Como Mi Padre

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds

6 Maximinus – First time gelding is the ultimate equipment change; it’s the biggest reason for an uptick I can think of.

3 Happy Idea – His one race on organic dirt two back was a real corker; if he runs anything close to that, look out.

Long Shot – 1 Morning Line Wiz

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

8 W. Giles – Solid edge over a slowpoke group; like the parking lot post the clock the early speed inside of him.

6 Mr. Cactus – Rafael Bejarano gave up so Agapito Delgadillo takes over; suspect you’ll get more value if you still like him.

Long Shot – 7 Heaveneleven

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), $100,000 Irish O’Brien, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Ciao Bella Luna – When the money is on the line, like my odds with Rafael Bejarano; notice how many photo finishes he wins.

2 Dancingtothestars – Has tried the hillside course 4 times without winning; still is dangerous with her fast closing tactics.

Long Shot – 7 Could Be Trouble

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Boss of Me – Claimed by Bob Hess off a putrid turf route; the key here is his strong organic dirt win two races back.

8 Brave Act – Facing winners for the first time is a steep class rise; the speed figures of his last 2 races make him competitive.

Long Shot – 1 Wonderful Union

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

9 Star Act – A lot to like when Gary Stevens and Tom Proctor team up; lost last time to the talented Nashoba’s Gold.

11 Bird in Love – Was flattered when Diversity Harbor won a sharp race next time out; this one figures to have a future.

Long Shot – 7 Taylor Lane

Race 7 – 1 1/8th miles, $350,000 Santa Margarita, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Iotapa – Finally put together a signature win last time in the Santa Maria; she can head the SoCal division with a repeat race.

1 Fiftyshadesofhay – More was expected of her after 3-YO wins in the Black-Eyed Susans and Iowa Oaks; not too late for improvement.

Long Shot – 5 Let Faith Arise

Race 8 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $63,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

5 Rookie Sensation – The main track experiment in the Strub was a dismal failure; returns to his preferred surface, grass.

2 Di Giorgio – Did everything but win last time in a strong performance; Joe Talamo for Gary Stevens who rides Procurement.

Long Shot – 3 Si Sage

Race 9 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

3 Whine for Wine – Typical green debut, slow early, fast late; if he breaks better from the starting gate, no stopping him here.

4 K Thirty Eight – Dueled hard for the lead in debut, but stopped badly late; might be lone speed except for maybe a FTS.

Long Shot – 5 Next Book

Best Bet – 8 W. Giles (race 3)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$22.00; Long Shots, 6/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 803/229/$1,400.00; Long Shots, 395/55/$578.00; Best Bets, 49/24/$101.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #6 Twigazuri Strait (12/1) in race 6 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Divorce Party ran out at Tampa Bay. Stats – 46/25/$256.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick