Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, January 31

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

7 It’s Aine – Claimed by Hector Palma and spotted nicely to win right off; her race two back is fast enough to crush these.

4 Nothing to Hide – Claimed by Steve Knapp, who likes to win races on the drop; this one has friends at this $8K level.

Long Shot – 1 Swiss Heart

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

4 Alston – Ran a solid second in last first time with Lasix; has shown steady improvement in each of his three career starts.

8 Better Luck – Must overcome a parking lot post; showed much improved early speed in last despite slowing down some late.

Long Shot – 6 Empire Cat

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

1 Big Hat Charlie – Among the ones with experience, he looks slightly best; like the rail post to save all of the ground.

3 Yiannis – FTS from the John Sadler barn; Sadler has been quiet of late, too quiet, so expect more from this top barn.

Long Shot – 7 Commute

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Bow Tie Belle – Claimed by George Papaprodromou who likes to use Rafael Bejarano; has enough speed to attend the early pace.

8 Midnight lady – Second start off a 2-month hiatus; will try to replicate the race she ran down at Del Mar two back.

Long Shot – 5 Shy Rosa

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

10 Margot Machance – Should get lots of value with Flavien Prat replacing Rafael Bejarano; been a nibbler brushing fast late.

12 Our Little Hen – Likes to run second, so that’s where I put her here; like the parking lot post down the hillside turf course.

Long Shot – 4 Brescat

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, $200,000 Palos Verdes, 4-year-olds and up

1 Distinctiv Passion – I like when a horse wins while running a slower Beyer; tells me there might be more left in the gas tank.

4 Secret Circle – Killed the show plungers last time when fourth at 30-cents chalk; he is much better than that, higher odds today too.

Long Shot – 3 Conquest Two Step

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), $200,000 Arcadia, 4-year-olds and up

8 Za Approval – Classy veteran gets teamed up tonight with HOF Mike Smith; has plenty of late run, just needs to be handled correctly.

4 Kaigun – Hard hitting Canadian impressed in the Seabiscuit last time out; just missed in the grade 1 Woodbine Mile last fall.

Long Shot – 2 Home Run Kitten

Race 8 – 1 mile, $300,000 Las Virgenes, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Maybellene – Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry to caveat emptor; this one gave all she had fighting Take Charge Brandi in the Starlet.

6 Majestic Presence – The maestro Jerry Hollendorfer has 5 uncoupled in this field; has improved with blinkers on in last two tries.

Long Shot – 4 Achiever’s Legacy

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

11 Steam Play – Set ridiculous fractions in last sprint before collapsing; stretches out around 2-turns, pace will be very reasonable.

7 Rockin Robin – Mark Glatt turns to HOF Gary Stevens for the money shot; this is the toughest race on the card in my humble opinion.

Long Shot – 9 Just Kidding

Best Bet – 4 Alston (race 2)

Santa Anita Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/5/$38.00; Long Shots, 8/2/$17.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals – 362/98/$649.40; Long Shots, 182/27/$266.40; Best Bets, 22/9/$40.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #6 Carolina Jasmine (2/1) in race 9 at Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Prom Dress won at Gulfstream Park paying $4.20 to win, $2.60 place and $2.10 to show. Stats – 17/13/$76.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick