HORSE RACING
January 6, 2011 - 12:00 am
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 4-year-olds and up
6 Lichtenstein - Very short price on the other half of the Baffert uncoupled entry; will be stalking from the wide out.
4 Reality Ride - Longer odds price of the uncoupled Bob Baffert entry; the trainer history is to win with the longer price.
Long Shot - 3 Saintly Soul
Race 2 - 7 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
5 Lift Our Luck - Jeff Mullins barn has started the meet fast; dead-late closer exiting a productive race.
6 Takethemoneyandrun - Interesting Woodbine shipper makes her SoCal debut for Vladimir Cerin; expect P Val to send.
Long Shot - 4 Sambora
Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $38,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
8 Bella Roja - Always prefer the outside posts down the hillside turf course; Rafael Bejarano will sit and charge late.
4 Magic Launch - Speedball tactics under P Val; will like the turf rail out 24 feet, which obviously aids frontrunners.
Long Shot - 1 Saanneen
Race 4 - 7 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
2 Marquisite - Big rider switch to P Val for the money shot; third start off a 10-month hiatus could be her best.
5 Elle Dehere - You have to search pretty hard to love Kerwin John on a chalk FTS; shows you how slow this field really is.
Long Shot - 9 Warrens Matchmaker
Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
7 Bitt a Heat - She is an in-and-outer so far in her career; Garrett Gomez stays loyal, expect more consistency today.
6 Bila Shaka - Ran evenly in debut, which was clearly a test drive; is bred top and bottom to adore the grass.
Long Shot - 1 Orfano
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
4 Serene Sophia - You ignore Bob Baffert starters this meet at your own peril; they are running like they're on rocket fuel.
2 Our Road Scholar - Has some good dirt experience on her resume; big paycheck casher for the A. C. Avila barn.
Long Shot - 5 Streamline Baby
Race 7 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $56,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
4 Yodelen Dan - At 8-YO he remains as consistent as they come on turf; Jeff Mullins spaces his races and spots him well.
3 Sporting Art - This is the price tag that Mike Mitchell claimed him for; expect a top effort and likely to get claimed.
Long Shot - 2 Tiz Argent
Race 8 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
9 Marino's Promise - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this low level; good tactical speed to sit a nice trip.
6 Led Advantage - Another sliding down the claiming ladder to a career-low class; need not be much to handle these.
Long Shot - 8 Warrens Highroller
Best Bet - 4 Serene Sophia (race 6)
Santa Anita Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/5/$32.00; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Park Totals - 116/36/$238.00; Long Shots, 57/7/$64.00; Best Bets, 7/3/$10.80
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - 7 Spanish Comedy (7/2) in race 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Justa Average Joe ran third at Tampa Bay Downs paying $2.40 to show. Stats - 7/5/$40.60