Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, March 8

Race 1 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

1 Faith Hope Love – Suspect will save all the ground inside under Rafael Bejarano; he’s riding a ton of live horses today.

3 Beverly the Boss – Ran OK in grass debut last out; she may be faster on dirt, but we’ll find out more tonight.

Long Shot – 2 Dancinginthestreet

Race 2 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

1 Snuggley Bear – Rafael Bejarano again draws the rail with the morning line chalk; chance to sit a trip and grind it out late.

7 Cowtownmary – Has the right jockey, Edwin Maldonado, for a big speed effort; has succumbed in the final furlong in both races.

Long Shot – 2 Pantera Rojo

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

6 Tribal Smoke – Takes the blinkers off; Jeff Mullins having a good meet, using Tyler Baze for the injured Martin Pedroza.

5 Pass the Pico – Claimed by Julio Canani who is having an ice cold meet; Joel Rosario is riding in every race this afternoon.

Long Shot – 10 Quick Cielo

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

2 Rough Passage – Has been knocking on the door in all 4 career starts; his speed figures are improving, a positive sign.

5 Ferocious – Did everything but win in a fine debut; will be a major player with just one step of improvement.

Long Shot – 10 Gameboy Luke

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, $300,000 San Felipe, 3-year-olds

9 Midnight Hawk – Got tired in the Lewis after using up nervous energy early on; I think he can get the distance, if he relaxes.

4 California Chrome – After 2 visually impressive wins in a row, is the chalk today; key is facing much tougher open company.

Long Shot – 7 Kristo

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf), $75,000 China Doll, Fillies, 3-year-olds

11 On the Backstreets – Was the easiest winner in last that I’ve seen in a long time; a true transformation since going on grass.

1 Anniversary Kitty – Has run two very good races on turf so far; Corey Nakatani remains one of the best turf rides in racing.

Long Shot – 8 Diversy Harbor

Race 7 – 7 furlongs, $250,000 San Carlos, 4-year-olds

1 Sahara Sky – Looked like a horse who needed a race in the Palos Verde; second start off a 9-month hiatus.

10 Shakin It Up – Bob Baffert could of run him in the Big Cap; has visions of winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with him.

Long Shot – 6 Wild Dude

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf), $350,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, 4-year-olds and up

5 Za Approval – Gave Wise Dan all he wanted in the BC Mile; hasn’t started since, but figures to be fresh and fit.

2 Regally Ready – Suspect he could be the speed of the speed today; has shown a fondness for Arcadia grass.

Long Shot – 3 Optimizer

Race 9 – 1 1/4 miles, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap, 4-year-olds and up

2 Mucho Macho Man – Has proven his class and ability over Santa Anita dirt; he’s running better now than ever before.

1 Will Take Charge – Ran a huge second in the Donn against a major speed bias; he’s been a new horse since Saratoga.

Long Shot – 3 Blingo

Race 10 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

4 Got Even – Another live one for Rafael Bejarano; he has a way of nursing a horse to have something left for the end.

3 Oliver’s Tale – Could get overlooked from a low percentage barn; Brice Blanc prefers to sit and make one brush.

Long Shot – 2 Chief Lion

Race 11 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

5 Jules Journey – Big late rally in the Cal Cup Classic; Joe Talamo gets his first chance on this Jim Cassidy charge.

3 This One’s for Mel – Third start off the claim by Peter Eurton; Luis Saez may take off this mount to fly back to Miami.

Long Shot – 6 African Oil

Best Bet – 1 Faith Hope Love (race 1)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$21.60; Long Shots, 8/1/$11.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.60

Santa Anita Park Totals – 733/215/$1,318.40; Long Shots, 363/50/$529.00; Best Bets, 45/23/$98.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #4 Won Great Classic (4/1) in race 7 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Lawyer Gabe won at Oaklawn Park paying $6.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Stats – 42/22/$228.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick