Today at Santa Anita Park: March 9, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

2 Keyboard Courage – Takes a big class drop from $25k to $12,500; from the very live Peter Miller barn.

7 Dunmore East – Claimed by Julio Canani and aggressively raised in class; exits a pair of wins, so is in top form right now.

Long Shot – 3 My Jealous

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

6 Bluegrass Fox Trot – Aaron Gryder has a nice horse in Blingo who ran third in the Big Cap; should lead to more local business.

7 Prince of Paris – Tepid chalk in another low level race; after the Big Cap card, expect a lot of low class races to fill.

Long Shot – 2 Even Echo

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Quinnette – Ron Ellis has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; this one drops in class off three in the money finishes.

7 Sweet Boss – Won her debut, albeit 10-months ago; not sure why Jose Valdivia, Jr. has fallen off the face of the earth.

Long Shot – 5 Sea John’s Spirit

Race 4 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

9 Sheer Talent – Tepid favorite got claimed by Mark Glatt in last; key vote for me comes from leading rider Rafael Bejarano.

5 Gallant Charm – Has been in the money in 4-of-6 turf tries; no grass wins yet, but most in here appear camera shy.

Long Shot – 8 Handsome Dennis

Race 5 – 1 mile, Purse $23,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Muchos Besos – Has a lot of back class so last placing was no surprise; like the rail post at a mile, short run to the turn.

8 Mensa Heat – Brice Blanc won 21 races last year, he has 7 already this meet; this old gelding remembered how to win in last.

Long Shot – 2 Mr. Candy Bar

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

3 Nooten – If this doesn’t look like a normal Sunday card, you’re right; used up a ton of good races on Saturday’s program.

7 Missing Groom – Ran OK in career debut at Del Mar; suspect he faced a much tougher group at the summer resort.

Long Shot – 1 Mythical Storm

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, $100,000 Las Flores, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 Judy the Beauty – Very accomplised grade 1 caliber makes her season debut; gave Groupie Doll all she could handle in the BC.

2 Warm Breeze – Shippers expose the lack of depth in the SoCal distaff sprinters; trainer Grant Forster used to be out West.

Long Shot – 5 Munnings Sister

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Premier Steps – Tom Proctor barn has been hot no matter where he’s stabled; stretches back out to a mile after a hill sprint.

2 Oscar Party – Suspect won’t be 6/1 odds with Rafael Bejarano up; has the ability to lead or rate off of the early pace.

Long Shot – 10 Viva Carina

Race 9 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Swiss Peak – Irving Orozco finds life difficult after losing his bug; the riding colony is deeper than its been in years.

7 Desviado – The field is so poor, this horse returns from a 2-year hiatus with a chance; top rider Joe Talamo takes the call.

Long Shot – 9 Diablita

Best Bet – 3 Judy the Beauty (race 7)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 22/3/$21.20; Long Shots, 11/1/$7.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 755/218/$1,339.60; Long Shots, 374/52/$536.20; Best Bets, 46/23/$98.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Elaine Kowaleski (3/1) in race 1 at the Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Won Great Classic won at Aqueduct paying $7.00 to win, $3.50 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats – 43/23/$241.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick