X
HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $26,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
2 Tiz True – We’ll see if the extra sand slows down the main track; this guy figures to duel with P Val on Buc the Spartan.
3 Tropical Heat – If there is a speed duel, Rafael Bejarano will sit in the catbird seat; tepid chalk in a harder-than-looks race.
Long Shot – 1 Vulcan
Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds
3 Bev N Bud – Typical debut, slow early, fast late; if he stretches out around 2 turns OK, he will be a major contender.
4 Spud Spivens – Henry Moreno, like Jack Van Berg, used to win lots of races in SoCal; has a big shot here as a tepid favorite.
Long Shot – 1a Redemsky
Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
3 Party With Brando – Has a big edge with two solid dirt races, both at Fairplex; good grinder fits well with Rafael Bejarano.
6 Warren’s Got Game – Tries dirt for the first time, but the transition is easier from synthetics; P Val will put her into the race.
Long Shot – 2 Lady Lazer
Race 4 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
3 Popular Cause – Speedball tactics with P Val riding, what else do you need to know?; will play catch me if you can.
2 Quail Hill – Has underachieved, to say the least; dirt may be a new lease on life, saves ground and hopefully grinds late.
Long Shot – 1 Renewing
Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $34,000, Claiming $32,000, 4-year-olds and up
3 Asperity – Just beat a similar group on grass last out; Garrett Gomez remains loyal, clearly the one to beat.
7 Kris Silver – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career-low price tag; speedball aided by turf rail out 24 feet.
Long Shot – 1 Concerto’s Thunder
Race 6 – 1 mile, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $23,000, 3-year-olds
4 Cookie’s From Tony – Sharp improvement in second career start; was flattered when Devour won his next out.
6 Diamond Touch – Big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; not much horse, this is not much of a field.
Long Shot – 2 Cody Peak
Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $59,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
4 Crisis of Spirit – Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry, the longer price is Salty Sarah; class relief for this filly.
6 Church Camp – Her last race was good, a repeat is fast enough to upset these; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.
Long Shot – 5 Salty Sarah
Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $19,000, 4-year-olds and up
6 Trueno – It’s that poor a field where an 0-for-18 animal can still win; has tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.
9 Matamor – Tepid chalk is favored because of Rafael Bejarano; sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this career-low class.
Long Shot – 1 Outrageous Fortune
Best Bet – 4 Cookie’s From Tony (race 6)
Santa Anita Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/3/$17.00; Long Shots, 9/1/$23.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60
Santa Anita Totals – 266/73/$464.50; Long Shots, 132/18/$211.80; Best Bets, 15/8/$30.90
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 2 Ronaldo (5/1) in race 3 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Fortescue ran second at Parx Racing paying $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats – 15/12/$84.50