Today at Santa Anita Park: Feb. 28, 2014

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds

5 Runaway Que – Expect much rain in Arcadia today; I like horses with speed and outside so the mud isn’t kicked in their faces.

1 Clouds Clearing – Taking a huge class drop to face much easier; not sure if the rail will be the best place today.

Long Shot – 4 Still Unbroken

Race 2 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

4 Volkonsky – I’m handicapping the turf races for a wet main track; this guy ran well over the main track in last.

8 Bench Light – Claimed in last by John Sadler, that’s a good thing; gets weight off here with bugboy Drayden Van Dyke.

Long Shot – 5 Christopher Street

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

3 Empress of Midway – Ran well in debut for Doug O’Neill; was well backed too, Mike Smith stays loyal to the cause.

1 Zensational Beauty – Bob Baffert speedball figures to leave with alacrity; bred to like an off track, potentially.

Long Shot – 4 Katerrific

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

8 Gospel Music – Like I said, I’m handicapping for off the turf again; this one ran fine in debut at Golden Gate synthetics.

2 Tizapalooza – Trying to project how some of these horses will run on the main track is a real dart throw; next move is yours.

Long Shot – 1 Tricky Journey

Race 5 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 J Louie – Has a lot of speed which could be key over a wet main track; not familiar at all with trainer Lorenzo Ruiz.

5 Giannonatti – Last race over the main track is enough for consideration here; Tyler Baze is a strong send/gate rider.

Long Shot – 1 Smil’n From Above

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

5 Midnight Dream – Bob Baffert graduate facing winners for the first time; suspect outside post will be a positive today.

4 Belle of the Fleet – Draw a line thru a non-race in the Chandelier and she looks fine; real chance to rebound in here.

Long Shot – 1 D’ya Knowwhatimean

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 A Little Luckier – Ran like a horse who needed a race in last off a long layoff; has main track experience to run back too.

1 Betty Bing Bing – Need not be much to be competitive with these; we’ll see how the bugboy handles his goggles today.

Long Shot – 6 Turn On

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

8 Rich in Tradition – She is 0-for-23 yet I’m picking here; this is the bottom rung and most of these deserve to be at this level.

11 Classic Candy – Been away since September, but that’s not a negative with these; may show some early speed to boot.

Long Shot – 12 Amina Perfect

Best Bet – 5 Runaway Que (race 1)

Santa Anita Park Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 12/4/$19.40; Long Shots, 6/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.40

Santa Anita Park Totals – 655/194/$1,180.80; Long Shots, 325/39/$424.20; Best Bets, 40/21/$89.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #8 Engine (7/2) in race 6 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Yes It’s Pink ran third at Gulfstream Park paying $3.80 to show. Stats – 37/21/$210.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick