HORSE RACING

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up

3 Causeithertz – Humberto Ascanio has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; late punch from today’s shorter distance.

7 One Nation – Has been well bet in all 3 career starts; showed a possible preference for grass last time out.

Long Shot – 2 Squad

Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

2 Tokubetsu – Ran a winning race for this class last time out; repeat race is fast enough to graduate today.

3 Dominus – Overcame an awkward start in debut with a strong finish for second; SoCal debut for his trainer Steve Asmussen.

Long Shot – 5 Smug

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Kahlua Mist – Even ran in last first off the claim by Vladimir Cerin; big rider switch to P Val for the money shot.

4 Led Advantage – A.C. Avila has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; this one rallied fast last time to just miss.

Long Shot – 5 Imperatriz

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

5 Nextdoorneighbor – Tiny edge in a very difficult heat; his first try down the hillside course in last was a good one.

1 Vaundell – Been away 13 months, but showed good ability back when; hate the rail post, but this one has talent if ready.

Long Shot – 8 Tamarack Smarty

Race 5 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

8 Brenthurst – Big class drop may be enough to put him over the hump; ran a crackerjack group of veterans in last.

6 Mensa Heat – Continues to outrun his high odds in recent races; he is long overdue to upset in winning one of these.

Long Shot – 3 Lordgivemealift

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), $40,000 March Madness Handicap, 4-year-olds and up

3 Lease of Life – Beat a similar group in last and is proven to like Santa Anita sod; can sit a trip and fire fast late.

5 Asperity – Underrated Robertino Diodoro has done a nice job winning races; tough claim from John Sadler though.

Long Shot – 6 California Soldier

Race 7 – 1 1/12 miles, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup, 4-year-olds and up

1 Honour the Deputy – Really woke up with a big effort in the Santana Mile; private purchase is moving in the right direction.

4 Soul Candy – May have been rallying fastest of all in the Big Cap; despite the pedigree, appears to be a natural stayer.

Long Shot – 6 Spurrier

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $38,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Samba School – Mike Mitchell does great claiming long-winded turf routers; expect this guy to improve a step or two.

3 Van Brit – Dead-game win in last; P Val had choices and opted to ride for Vladimir Cerin, good tactical speed too.

Long Shot – 5 Hameildaeme

Race 9 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Queenofcalifornia – Speedball tactics nearly worked to perfection in last; the main fear comes from some FTS.

1 Margo Verge – FTS exits a bullet workout so watch the tote board for additional clues; need not be much for Doug O’Neill.

Long Shot – 7 Katelyn n’ Jenna

Best Bet – 2 Tokubetsu (race 2)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/5/$23.40; Long Shots, 8/2/$9.80; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60

Santa Anita Park Totals – 918/256/$1,616.90; Long Shots, 459/70/$668.00; Best Bets, 54/25/$99.10

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 1 King Bo Bo (5/2) in race 1 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Noontime Diva was scratched at Tampa Bay Downs. Stats – 51/38/$289.70