Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, January 8

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

2 Lolo El Canonero – Tiny edge in a difficult opener; like the big class drop to face much easier.

4 Test Ride – Tepid chalk sliding down the class ladder; broke his maiden in a MSW at Del Mar, for sale sign up.

Long Shot – 1 Night Badger

Race 2 – 1 1/2 miles (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $65,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 4-year-olds and up

7 Big Kick – Was eased in last, just the kind I like to play; has early, controlling speed in this turf marathon.

4 Power Foot – Has shown a fondness for Santa Anita sod; top Euro jock Kieren Fallon on board, that’s a big plus.

Long Shot – 1 Bench Light

Race 3 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Mom’s Winner – Will try speedball tactics from a parking lot post; Joe Talamo should have only one way of going.

6 Warren’s Assassin – Last win came at this bottom level class; will sit a trip and hope the race falls apart in front of her.

Long Shot – 2 Puttybadshark

Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $17,000, Claiming 48,000, 4-year-olds and up

7 Chicsdigtheshark – Has won 7-of-12 races over Santa Anita dirt; this is the lowest class he’s seen in his life.

5 Broadway Nika – Draw a line thru last and his race two back looks good; that’s the one they hope to repeat tonight.

Long Shot – 9 Preacher Roe

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

8 Forest Chatter – Has been well bet in both career starts; showed improvement when switched to turf last time out.

7 Tizapalooza – Has run twice and showed two different running styles; will be interested to see what Rafael Bejarano does.

Long Shot – 1 Hazardous Dreams

Race 6 – 7 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Bow Tie Belle – Like the cut back in distance; main caveat is she has never raced on dirt, trained on it, but first dirt start.

1 Real Bright Boots – Suspect will try early speed from the rail; last race was so awful, should guarantee some value.

Long Shot – 8 Here’s Bella

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

6 Baruta – With the turf rail out 30 feet, she will be blazing along early; I think there’s a good chance they won’t catch her either.

3 Royal Temptress – Talk about no speed, she will be closing from last turning for home; key is there must be a fast early pace.

Long Shot – 11 Black Bird Rock

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Preordained – Tiny edge in the hardest race on the card; this will finish up the pick 6 and late pick 4.

10 Militant – Joe Steiner doesn’t get many live mounts, but here’s one; Blake Heap puts him on a horse that has some early lick.

Long Shot – 2 Slewpy Again

Best Bet – 6 Baruta (race 7)

Santa Anita Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/5/$28.40; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60

Santa Anita Totals – 136/34/$229.60; Long Shots, 69/6/$59.00; Best Bets, 8/4/$19.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 More Hundred Acre (7/2) in race 3 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Skidmore ran third at Aqueduct paying $2.20 to show. Stats – 5/5/$23.00; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick