Horse Racing

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

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

1 Gifted Student – Rafael Bejarano had options and chose to ride for Eddie Truman; saves ground and grinds it out late.

3 Brayden Buddy – Been away more than a year, but showed ability back when; good early speed and picks up P Val.

Long Shot – 7 Excusemecomingthru

Race 2 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

3 Banana Cream Pie – Claimed by Mike Mitchell who wins first out at a heavenly rate; has solid back class resume too.

1 Meter Me Gone – Claimed by Jack Carava who quietly is having a nice meet; her race two back is fast enough to upset.

Long Shot – 5 Intentional

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

7 Popular Chase – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; adding blinkers on too.

1 Bryan Daniel – Sharp second last time as a tepid chalk; saves all the ground under Corey Nakatani.

Long Shot – 3 Star Navigator

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $45,000, Claiming $50,000, 4-year-olds and up

8 Cherokee Heaven – Logical chalk making his third start off a 2-month hiatus; will be firing late for Rafael Bejarano.

7 Dapper Gene – Another dead-late closer who loves the hillside course; been claimed in his last 5 of 7 starts.

Long Shot – 4 Sassou

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, $70,000 Santa Lucia, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 Church Camp – Stretches out in distance after winning an elongated sprint; she is exiting fast-paced fractions.

7 Briecat – Logical chalk did everything but win the Buena Vista in last; she has won 3 of 7 starts on dirt.

Long Shot – 6 Ash Zee

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $34,000, Claiming $32,000, 4-year-olds and up

3 Achak – Going with a miler turning back in distance; figure Alonso Quinonez will sit a trip and come firing fast late.

4 Dance With Gable – Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; has early speed to lead or follow close up.

Long Shot – 9 Get Funky

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

5 Rumor – Just missed last time while stretching out to a mile; turns back today and should finish fast in here.

10 Rachel Jones – Her first dirt try was a good one in last; like the parking lot post to clock the early speed.

Long Shot – 1 Hailey d’Oro

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $59,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up

2 Earnednevergiven – Tiny edge in a race that should lead to a cavalry-charge finish; he loves the hillside turf course.

6 Streakin’ Mohican – If any horse can steal this on the front end, it’s this guy; simple tactics in his turf debut.

Long Shot – 5 Camp Victory

Race 9 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

9 B’s Lucky Strike – Gets a big rider switch to Martin Pedroza for the money shot; figures to save his best for last.

6 Espirito Santo – Did a classic pop and stop in a rapid early pace; suspect a softer pace today and he’ll get the lead.

Long Shot – 8 Jolly Ollie

Best Bet – 8 Cherokee Heaven (race 8)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/3/$20.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$8.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 936/259/$1,636.90; Long Shots, 467/71/$676.60; Best Bets, 55/25/$99.10

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 1 Xpectation (5/2) in race 3 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, King Bo Bo ran third at Aqueduct paying $2.10 to show. Stats – 52/39/$291.80