Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, January 25

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds

3 W. Giles – Chance to be lone early speed if broke sharp and hustled to the front; plays catch me if you can.

4 Friendswith K Mill – Gets huge class relief from the El Cajon to this $20K price tag; cutsback in distance, should be rolling late.

Long Shot – 2 Sudden Rumor

Race 2 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up

4 Opsec – Two of his better finishes have come in 2-turn grass races; Bob Baffert babies rarely take this long to graduate their MSW.

1 Alamo – Like the rail draw at one mile, short run to the first turna and saves all the ground; Gary Stevens continues to ride well.

Long Shot – 2 To the Bar

Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $19,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds and up

8 Broadway Nika – Has won twice since claimed five races ago by A. C. Avila; speed to lead but must overcome a difficult parking lot post.

1 Deep Play – This is his first dirt race, though he’s trained on dirt his whole life; fast enough, but must make the transition.

Long Shot – 6 Street Serenade

Race 4 – 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

7 The Man – Chance to be lone early speed if breaks sharp for Martin Garcia; start of the Pick 6 with a $116K carryover.

3 New Summit – Moved forward last time in his second career start; like that Rafael Bejarano remains loyal to this Ted West charge.

Long Shot – 2 Why Two

Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Sayes So – Alex Solis doesn’t get many live mounts, but Papa Mandella has not forgotten about him; like the cutback in distance.

6 Air of Royalty – Been in the money in 5-of-6 lifetime starts; broke her MSW over Santa Anita dirt last October.

Long Shot – 3 Unforgettable U

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

10 Prize Exhibit – Should be a popular choice off a crazy late run in the Breeders’ Cup; not easy navigated a 13 horse field from last.

3 American Sun – Speedball was taken back in last and nearly got the win; is bred beautifully for grass, top and bottom, matter of when.

Long Shot – 1 Jaded Glory

Race 7 – 7 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

13 Aperfectdaytofly – Like the parking lot post in this elongated sprint; sliding down the claiming ladder to this bottom rung.

8 El Vaguro – Has closed well in all three career starts; like the cutback in distance from a 2-turn mile to an elongated sprint.

Long Shot – 12 Kozani

Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), $75,000 Clocker’s Corner, 4-year-olds and up

1 Lil Bit O’Fun – Tiny edge in a near impossible race to figure; excellent hillside turf course resume, strong betting angle.

5 Sweet Swap – Has been a hillside turf course maven in his career; when you run well down the hill, that tends to stick with out.

Long Shot – 8 Hay Dude

Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

13 Sum Midnight Star – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; doesn’t need to be much to graduate.

8 Nevada Time – Was the 7/5 favorite in last at Los Alamitos; ran very well, but racing over the big boys oval in Arcadia.

Long Shot – 14 Militant

Best Bet – 13 Aperfectdaytofly (race 7)

Santa Anita Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/5/$32.60; Long Shots, 10/4/$63.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals – 314/83/$551.60; Long Shots, 158/24/$236.20; Best Bets, 19/8/$33.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #8 Wildcat Gaze (3/1) in race 2 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Quality Rocks ran second at Gulfstream Park paying $3.00 to place and $2.60 to show. Stats – 14/10/$49.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick