Today at Santa Anita: October 27, 2013

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA by Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/4 miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $51,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Segway – Tiny edge in a tight fit; Gary Stevens is riding in terrific form, and he’s 50-YO.

7 Vibrato Jazz – Solid return where he almost upset at 7/1 odds; is he improves one step he’ll be hard to handle.

Long Shot – 2 Stoney Fleece

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

2 Be Proud – Bob Baffert has been starting very few horses as he prepares for the Breeders’ Cup; grinding style can work here.

4 Salsita – Showed sharp improvement in second career start for Peter Miller; was bet like the word was out too.

Long Shot – 1 Arethusa

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Tappingintherain – Big rider switch to Gary Stevens for the money shot; ran very well off the layoff in last.

6 The Magic Stone – Showed high cheese in last and almost lasted; let’s see what tactics they try this afternoon.

Long Shot – 4 Dreamy Blues

Race 4 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $51,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

8 Appealing Tale – Peter Miller continues to send out live runners this meet; like the way Mario Gutierrez has been going.

7 Horizontalyspeakin – When trainers switch to Rafael Bejarano, it signals some intent; he is the current closer in SoCal.

Long Shot – 2 Empty Headed

Race 5 – 1 mile, Purse $54,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

1 Tiz the Truth – Bob Baffert has 2 in today and both will be heavily favored; had to love his powerful win last time out.

5 Fury Kapcori – Jerry Hollendorfer took a shot at the million dollar Pennsylvania Derby in last; clearly gets class relief today.

Long Shot – 6 Blue Tone

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

7 Taelyns Prince – Given plenty of time off since Del Mar by Jeff Mullins; no excuse here for sending out a short horse.

9 Bourne Hot – Like the cutback in distance by this speedball; suspect he’ll sit a trip and finish much better tonight.

Long Shot – 11 Global View

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $33,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

7 Tookmebysurprise – Has won 2 straight although not very convincing; can’t hassle a horse who likes to finish first.

4 Take One – Sharp long shot win in career debut down at Del Mar; been given plenty of time to face winners for the first time.

Long Shot – 8 Golden Celestial

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), $70,000 Lure, 3-year-olds and up

7 Venomous – Tiny edge in the toughest race on the card; you need to spread in the pick 4 or pick 6.

9 My Best Brother – Not sure what happened in Del Mar, but it was a stinker; key vote is Rafael Bejarano takes the mount.

Long Shot – 3 Huntsville

Race 9 – 6 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 2-year-olds

6 Market Notes – Big class dropper for Melody Conlon; consistent sort has been in the money in all 3 career starts.

10 Harbaugh – No shock which family this horse is named for; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

Long Shot – 3 Hitter’s Alley

Best Bet – 1 Tiz the Truth (race 5)

Santa Anita Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$30.20; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80

Santa Anita Totals – 319/80/$537.60; Long Shots, 153/22/$271.40; Best Bets, 18/8/$29.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #6 Tapiture (3/1) in race 8 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Finnegans Wake ran out at Keeneland. Stats – 168/112/$919.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick