Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, June 19

Race 1 – 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Kiss My Face – If you follow my comments over the years, you know how much I like cutback runners; saves ground and best comes late.

3 Awesome Luck – Tepid chalk in a wide open opener; key vote typically comes from the great Rafael Bejarano up.

Long Shot – 2 Jean Edward

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Marla Hooch – Ridden out winners will be looking to repeat; despite the dressed up conditions of last, this is basically the same group.

1 Midnight Lady – You know I like a rail post at a mile on turf or dirt; chance to save ground with a short run to the first turn.

Long Shot – 5 Always An Angel

Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Secure Divdend – Taking a steep class drop to face a moribund group of losers; his last race, if repeated, wins this by daylight.

8 Senor Pegasus – He has had a zillion chances, but this group is just so slow; if ridden with patience, may last the trip this time.

Long Shot – 7 Honey Fever

Race 4 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Commander King – John Sadler barn exploded with three sharp wins on Thursday; a hot barn is always worth following until further notice.

7 It is Living Water – Peter Miller continues to do his thing with consistency throughout the year; legs up Drayden Van Dyke for this.

Long Shot – 3 Shemp

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

8 American League – If ever there was a baseball horse, this is it; Michael McCarthy remains an under the radar trainer of great talent.

5 Gunfire – In a roomful of FTS, you do have a major edge over me; if you have access to SoCal clocker information, then use it.

Long Shot – 7 Dalmore

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $28,000, Starter handicap $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

3 Persuasive Paul – Won last out despite the surface switch to dirt; is well spotted, and protected, in the starter handicap condition.

10 Gab Power – Draw a line thru his last and his turf resume looks much better; tactical speed with the turf rail out 15 feet today.

Long Shot – 7 Rush In

Race 7 – 1 mile, Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Honey Ride – Holds a verdict over Sky Mesa two races ago; the pair eyeballed each other the length of the stretch and she prevailed.

4 Sky Mega – With Elvis Trujillo back east again, Rafael Bejarano takes over here; this looks like cat and mouse between the chalks.

Long Shot – 1 Front Range

Race 8 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Tangelo – Gets class relief from the grade 3 Santa Barbara for this; her race two back would be a good one for this level of horse.

3 Wild Bella – NoCal shipper might be downgraded if not for Rafael Bejarano sticking around for the finale; good turf resume up north.

Long Shot – 7 Barbara Beatrice

Best Bet – 6 Marla Hooch (race 2)

Santa Anita Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/4/$16.40; Long Shots, 8/1/$7.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.00

Santa Anita Meet Totals – 466/125/$694.80; Long Shots, 233/34/$397.60; Best Bets, 28/14/$57.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Devilish Grin (7/2) in race 4 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Harbor Bound ran out at Churchill Downs. Stats – 83/57/$413.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick