Horse Racing: Santa Anita, April 15, 2012

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

6 Mo Cheese – Exits a much tougher turf race for the main track; she’s not big on winning, but cashes many paychecks.

4 Queenie Marini – Has a lot of back class where a repeat of her last race is probable; will be moving fast in the lane.

Long Shot – 2 Memo to Kathy

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Blue Samurai – Finished behind the morning line favorite Candy and Thunder last out; suspect can turn the tables in here.

1 Candy and Thunder – Was scratched on Friday hoping for a grass race tonight; none in here is big on winning.

Long Shot – 6 Warren’s Goldie

Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $40,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds

3 Palio Prince – Claimed by Bill Spawr off a couple of good efforts; appears to have found new life on the dirt surface.

1 Sir Hamilton – Speedball exits a turf mile for this dirt elongated sprint; suspect will play catch me if you can.

Long Shot – 5 Miles Long Gone

Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

1 Ricspretentiousgal – Ran well last out first time around 2-turns; suspect will save ground and grind it out late.

3 Freckles Galore – Could be the speed of the speed if Rafael Bejarano decides to send; may be a no passing zone race.

Long Shot – 6 Call Me Lucy

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Valeria – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; flattered when Endless Fancy won next out.

2 Fast Moka Too – Ran evenly in first turf try; also taking the big class drop from MSW to maiden claiming.

Long Shot – 1 Dynamic Diva

Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

6 Magical Band – Getting bugboy Eswan Flores to ride is like stealing 5-lbs, he’s that good; second start, should improve.

3 Ghost of a Chance – Ran evenly in career debut; Dan Hendricks babies do improve with experiece, switches to hot riding Joe Talamo.

Long Shot – 2 Bronze Beauty

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $60,000, 4-year-olds and up

4 Obviously – Did everything but win in his U.S. debut; interesting move to use Brice Blanc instead of Rafael Bejarano.

6 Luckarack – Claimed by Ted West off a good try on dirt in last; has a good grass resume to return to sod makes sense.

Long Shot – 2 Metropolitan Man

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $65,000, Allowance, Fillies, 3-year-olds

3 Contested – Bob Baffert quinella looks like a mortal lock; this filly has the pedigree to improve and be something special.

4 Tiz the Tide – Was flattered when Nihilist won next time out; biggest obstacle is Baffert stablemate who looks like the nuts.

Long Shot – 2 Heleonor Rugby

Race 9 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

2 Dylan Donnelly – Looks tough to handle dirt or turf; big rider switch to Joel Rosario for the money shot.

6 Jonny’s Choice – Chased the favorite last time giving a good account of himself; will need to improve more to upset.

Long Shot – 9 Gurnick

Best Bet – 2 Dylan Donnelly (race 9)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$14.20; Long Shots, 7/1/$6.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.80

Santa Anita Park Totals – 1,091/288/$1,743.60; Long Shots, 550/86/$977.20; Best Bets, 62/25/$88.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #7 Sure Route (7/2) in race 6 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Prospective ran out at Keeneland. Stats – 60/43/$384.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick