Today at Santa Anita: Jan. 25, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

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

5 Forest Boy – Has had 10 chances, 4 seconds; lost by the slimest of margins last time out, same race today will win this.

6 Private Access – FTS from John Shirreffs; he has an uncoupled entry, which is unusual for this selective high profile barn.

Long Shot – 2 Modern Empire

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

1 Include the Cat – Flat last time as a beaten chalk, first race off the claim by Peter Miller; given time, returns in the pink.

6 Melanistic – Huge rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; Michael Catalano barn wins a lot of races back East.

Long Shot – 5 Rhodium

Race 3 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

5 Exclude – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to the bottom; this colt cost $550K so this is a near total loss.

2 Slight Edge – Winless in 13 tries, has closed well at times; will hope for a wicked fast pace to pass tired hombres.

Long Shot – 6 Statman Jerry

Race 4 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up

5 Artic North – Peter Miller charge gets class relief from graded stakes for this; key test is the cut back in distance.

3 Horizontalyspeakin – He looks like he could be lone early speed tonight; switch to Rafael Bejarano and a drop in class.

Long Shot – 6 Pure Loyalty

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

9 Everheart – Don’t mind the parking lot post in this elongated sprint; started slowly in last leaving her much to do late.

6 Writer Fever – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much facing a slowpoke field.

Long Shot – 1 Q’Viva

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse 456,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

3 Divine Way – Debut down the hillside course last time was a solid try; tactical speed to sit another nice trip.

13 Nothing to Hide – FTS from the Peter Miller barn should draw in; she must of looked good to be bought for $100K last May.

Long Shot – 2 Tizmiss

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

1 Chelios – Well bet second in career debut; dangerous duo of Gary Stevens and Tom Proctor, expect improvement tonight.

6 Superlooper – FTS from the Bob Baffert barn; watch the tote board for clues, key is his babies work fast, not all get bet.

Long Shot – 9 Sawyer’s Hill

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), $75,000 Clocker’s Corner, 4-year-olds and up

4 Boat Trip – Has run well in 3 starts down the hillside turf course; Joe Talamo is a master at sitting and charging late.

9 Ready for More – Like the parking lot post down the hill; claimed by Mike Mitchell, won last time in hill debut.

Long Shot – 2 Sweet Swap

Race 9 – 6 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

2 Broker Brett -When top jocks like Corey Nakatani stay for the cheap finale, there must be a good reason; watch the tote board.

4 On My Honor – Showed solid improvement in second start off a long layoff; third time out can be a charm for small outfit.

Long Shot – 9 Warren’s Tyler S.

Best Bet – 1 Chelios (race 7)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 19/5/$33.80; Long Shots, 10/1/$13.80; Best Bet, 1/1/$6.80

Santa Anita Park Totals – 345/106/$648.80; Long Shots, 170/21/$226.00; Best Bets, 21/10/$44.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Sweet Baby Gaines (7/2) in race 3 at Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Beat the Blues ran out at Oaklawn Park. Stats – 20/11/$84.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick