Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Dec. 30

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Miss Lady Ellen – Speedball may be in front by himself; speed was good over the sealed wet track yesterday.

2 Royal Tiger – Rafael Bejarano has come out this meet on fire; chance to sit a trip and grind in the lane.

Long Shot – 6 Eula B.

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $60,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Maker Or Breaker – For some reason, Bob Baffert horses are not running to their low odds; he is bound to get red hot, and soon.

3 Distracting – Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry, so caveat emptor; Rafael Bejarano had his choice and landed here.

Long Shot – 1 Charm the Maker

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

3 Humor Me – FTS from Bob Baffert, when will he start getting hot; been working bullet fast, what else.

5 Blushing Angel – Showed a lot of improvement second time out; she is the best among those with experience.

Long Shot – 1 Scherzinger

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Schiaparelli – Good chance this hillside race will be run on the main track; has the pedigree, by Ghostzapper to excel on dirt.

8 Missdealornodeal – She has spend most of her career on turf and synthetics; would be a question mark with a surface switch.

Long Shot – 4 Hopeful Union

Race 5 – 1 mile, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 2-year-olds

6 Bro Derek – First time gelding is also dropping in class; both moves should move him forward a lot.

4 Bugsy Losty – Was flattered when Scherer Magic won next out; returns from a 6-month hiatus going long and dropping in class.

Long Shot – 2 Trice Up

Race 6 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds

1 Tiz Dynamic – He is sharp now so Gary Stute stretches him out around 2-turns; improved when dropped down in class.

2 Won Won Oh Five – Has run four very good races in a row; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

Long Shot – 5 Trucial State

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

8 Chinese Praise – Returns off a 11-month hiatus in a claim proof spot; figures to come out breathing fire.

1 Streets of Heaven – Figures to be a heavy chalk on the steep class drop; doesn’t hurt to have Rafael Bejarano up either.

Long Shot – 2 Tweebster

Race 8 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), $150,000 Robert J. Frankel, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

9 Tiz Flirtatious – She should be able to handle turf or dirt; has shown more early speed on soil than on sod.

2 Halo Dolly – They hope to keep this stakes on turf; has proven herself on all surfaces, class filly from Jerry Hollendorfer.

Long Shot – 7 Vivo Per Lei

Race 9 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Unmarked Bills – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Joe Talamo had choices and landed here.

4 Shame On Alex – Showed improved early speed in last; suspect this will be a no passing zone race.

Long Shot – 8 Mind the Master

Best Bet – 8 Chinese Praise (race 7)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$18.40; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 0/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 49/9/$53.60; Long Shots, 26/6/$77.80; Best Bets, 2/1/$4.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #4 Marchman (7/2) in race 7 at Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Splendiferous was scratched at Fair Grounds. Stats – 1/1/$12.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick