HORSE RACING
February 21, 2011 - 2:01 am
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $38,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
10 Dapper Gene - Claimed by Hector Palma off a sharp win down the hillside course; like the parking lot post for this.
6 Dance With Gable - Was no factor in the Sunshine Millions; incredibly enough, shows up now in a $40k claimer, what gives?
Long Shot - Lease of Life
Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $25,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
5 Dontmesroundwitjim - Claimed by Bob Baffert for a Bob Baedeker-managed stable; has back class to repeat the win.
6 Self Insured - This may be beyond his comfort zone distance wise; won easy in last over a speed-favoring main track.
Long Shot - 4 Marquet Rebel
Race 3 - 1 1/8th miles, Purse $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 No Dream - Ran well in last, his second start ever on dirt; huge class drop makes the chalk a major player again.
3 My Man Sumo - Showed an affinity for dirt last time in an elongated sprint; figures to stretch out fine with his speed.
Long Shot - 8 Skellytown
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $45,000, 4-year-olds
4 Format V - Dead-late closer was overmatched last time in a tough allowance; these are his friends in %50k class.
1 California Soldier - Tepid chalk in an open affair; bad post, but his tactical speed is aided by the turf rail out 15 feet.
Long Shot - 10 Pico Pico
Race 5 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
6 Hoorayforhollywood - Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry, so caveat emptor; they all work fast and have great pedigree.
2 Guy On the Go - The other Baffert gets Martin Garcia, who is working to reclaim his spot in the barn; Tapit is a hot sire.
Long Shot - 7 Grip Hands
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), $100,000 La Habra, Fillies, 3-year-olds
13 Quiet Oasis - She'll need to draw in from the AEs; highly regarded, see the BC start, an outside draw would help tonight.
5 Cloneylass - Had some trouble in key moments of the stretch in last; tough race will go to the one with the best trip.
Long Shot - 10 Cambina
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
6 Forty Paces - Tepid chalk in another difficult heat; exits a key race and Rafael Bejarano remains loyal to the cause.
2 Irenes Jackpot - Won last time as the chalk, but loses her jockey to Seachi; a repeat race gives her a puncher's chance.
Long Shot - 7 Seachi
Race 8 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
6 Lilly Fa Pootz - Talk about a dart throw of a stakes; bulky field will provide a tough trip for a few of these.
11 Evening Jewel - Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; one of the best cards so far for field size and decent overall quality.
Long Shot - 10 It Tiz
Race 9 - 5 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up
1 Gaelic Glory - A repeat of his last race would crush these; big class dropper saves all the ground inside too.
4 Anne's Inheritance - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; been away 13 months though.
Long Shot - 9 Breakmark
Best Bet - 1 Gaelic Glory (race 9)
Santa Anita Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/4/$15.80; Long Shots, 9/3/$20.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.60
Santa Anita Park Totals - 594/167/$1,057.50; Long Shots, 300/41/$404.60; Best Bets, 35/15/$61.50
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - 1 Sultry Gentleman (9/5) in race 2 at the Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Live in Joy ran out at Tampa Bay Downs. Stats - 34/27/$219.10