HORSE RACING

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $59,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

6 Talktoomuch – Sluggish rally disappointed her 3/5 odds backers in last; should be closing the fastest of all.

1 Blue Maiden – Was overmatched in the Las Palmas, much easier spot tonight; like the turn back in distance.

Long Shot – 2 Prytania

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $26,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

1 Come Home Quick – Speedball makes her dirt debut today; the key vote for me comes from top jock Rafael Bejarano.

5 All the Love – Logical chalk figures to be closing fastest of all; will need the top choice to melt down late.

Long Shot – 3 Costanta

Race 3 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

8 Akkadian – Closed fast in a downhill sprint; stetching out for the first time for top combo of Garrett Gomez and Julio Canani.

1 Popular Chase – Speedball gets the right pilot in P Val; breaks from the rail, he should send and play catch me if you can.

Long Shot – 6 Unex Dali

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

8 Answer to Abby – Ran a much-improved effort in last; don’t mind the parking lot post to clock all the early speed.

1 Fine and Rare – Huge improvement from Fairplex debut to Santa Anita; repeat effort gives him a fighting chance.

Long Shot – 6 Brereton Park

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $63,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 4-year-olds and up

4 Smokey Lonesome – Likely speed will love the turf rail out 30 feet; has won 2 straight and excelled down the hillside.

5 Noble Court – Dead-late closer has not won since June 2009; still, he’s a natural closing sprinter who is always dangerous.

Long Shot – 2 No Inflation

Race 6 – 7 furlongs, $56,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

2 No Grande – Upset chance in the day’s hardest race; didn’t run a step on grass in last, he’s much better on dirt or synthetics.

8 A Plus Topper – Logical chalk did everything but win last time; has a tendency to collapse, bad habit at 7 furlongs.

Long Shot – 1 Adam Suances

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $63,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds

7 Metropolitan Man – With the turf rail out 30 feet, this speed demon will have to be caught; taking the blinkers off.

4 Diamond Geezah – Ran evenly in his U.S. debut; Mike Mitchell adding blinkers on, expect improvement tonight.

Long Shot – 8 Celestic Night

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Annie Lou – Has run two serviceable races, better than most in the field; might run better with a target.

3 Giveme Onereason – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; this is a much easier task.

Long Shot – 2 Jordanelle

Best Bet – 4 Smokey Lonesome (race 5)

Santa Anita Park Monday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/3/$24.20; Long Shots, 9/3/$39.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 611/170/$1,081.70; Long Shots, 309/44/$443.60; Best Bets, 36/15/$61.50

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – #3 Omricon (8/1) in race 5 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Monday, Sultry Gentleman won at Fair Grounds paying $5.00 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats – 35/28/$229.10