Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, June 26

Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Sir Macho – Taking a stiff class drop to face an easier task; switch from turf to dirt, but has shown some main track form.

4 Top Drawer – Claimed by Ron Ellis who apparently is more active in the claim box these days; expect logical improvement from top barn.

Long Shot – 5 Market Notes

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

4 Matriculate – That was an impressive debut win from a barn not known for that; Bill Spawr is a top trainer, this could be any kind.

6 London Legacy – Took a while to graduate even with the great Rafael Bejarano up the last four starts; facing winners for the first time.

Long Shot – 3 Tough Sunday

Race 3 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

7 Hot Ore – After two good sprint efforts, tries turf and route for the first time; is by Unusual Heat so that bodes well for him.

8 Frac Candy – Ran a good debut for a maiden claiming $50K price tag; not much difference between that and a MSW condition in here.

Long Shot – 4 Mr. Game Seven

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Norastone – For forgiving handicappers only; ran horrible in last despite the drop in class, key is her race two back would beat these.

6 Smil’n From Above – Despite being winless in eight starts, most at this low level, she deserves another shot; this is a slowpoke field.

Long Shot – 3 Lil Cheyenne

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights,

3 Alamo – After two good seconds in a row, may be able to pass that final foe tonight; best stride will come in the late stages.

8 Perfectly Majestic – If you know me well, you know how much I like cutbacks; this one also has the advantegeous parking lot post.

Long Shot – 1 Homer Matt

Race 6 – 5 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

10 True Brillance – Of the few with experience, his debut second was very good; flattered when Found Money won right back in a stakes.

9 Viviendo El Sueno – From the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; the fact that he legs up jockey Rafael Bejarano is another good sign.

Long Shot – 1 Getoffmyback

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Red Button – They hit the reset button after four straight stakes loss; returns as a first time gelding and with Rafael Bejarano up.

1 Anytime Anyplace – Speedball should enjoy the turf rail out 15 feet; is exiting two stakes so he is getting class relief also.

Long Shot – 4 Diamond Majesty

Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 West Coast Storm – Small edge facing a very bad lot in the finale; has speed and the rail so her tactics should be fairly simple.

4 Chicago Angel – With 11 races in the bank, she is turning into a professional maiden; these are so show, she has races that can win.

Long Shot – 2 Valentine’s Reward

Best Bet – 3 Alamo (race 5)

Santa Anita Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/5/$39.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$7.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.80

Santa Anita Meet Totals – 531/144/$802.80; Long Shots, 266/40/$453.80; Best Bets, 32/17/$68.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 My Adonis (3/1) in race 5 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Pep the Champ won at Belmont Park paying $6.20 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats – 86/59/$431.70; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick