Today at Santa Anita Park: May 1, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 4 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

8 Wake Up Nick - Doug O’Neill has 3 in here, so keep an eye on all of them; main stable rider, Mario Gutierrez, ends up on this one.

2 Saturday Yodeler - All 8 are FTS as 2-YO racing has started in SoCal; from a live baby race tandem of Harrington and Maldonado.

Long Shot - 7 Papa Kade

Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Roman Tizzy - Has run 2 strong races, for this bottom class, since running for a price tag; one step improvement gets the job done.

1 Wicked Heat - Showed major improvement last time out; the rail can be a big aid with a show run to the first turn, save all the ground.

Long Shot - 4 Stenoa

Race 3 - 1 1/4 miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Boyett - Rafael Bejarano has no KY Derby mount, so he’ll probably win 5 races on Saturday; speedball tends to give it up late.

6 Hotradamus - Stretching out to this marathon distance; figures to be forwardly placed, may inherit the lead late.

Long Shot - 7 Christopher Street

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

7 Old Pueblo - Interesting claim by Paul Aguirre off a maiden claiming win; legs up his main man Iggy Puglisi.

5 Shackbamalama - Like the subtle cut back in distance with this speedball type; blinkers on for this Vladimir Cerin charge.

Long Shot - 6 Clouds Clearing

Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Thisonesforricky - Money burner has been beaten twice in a row at odds on; key vote is Rafael Bejarano remains loyal to the cause.

1 Shapely - Ground saving trip from the rail under Joe Talamo; nice debut, now gets Lasix for Ron Ellis in second career start.

Long Shot - 7 Front Range

Race 6 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Rhagori - Back to back good races by this Euro import; Simon Callaghan has done very well with these grass imports.

5 Scarlet Strike - Was ill suited for a sprint when her forte is long and grass; last should serve as a nice tightener for this.

Long Shot - 7 One Time Only

Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

1 Cause Ur My Babe - How many wins will it be today for Rafael Bejarano; he always puts his horses in the right position.

3 Shakeitupbetty - Clear MSW win in last at odds on price; chased the chalk two races ago, will try to reverse the tables in here.

Long Shot - 2 Prayer Be Mine

Race 8 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

8 Joeandbetty’sbaby - Claimed by Vladimir Cerin as a beaten favorite down the hill; like that Rafael Bejarano opted to ride back.

4 Highly Rated - Mike Machowsky adding blinkers on; speedball has the right rider for his style, Edwin Maldonado.

Long Shot - 2 Flashy Dame

Best Bet - 6 Rhagori (race 6)

Santa Anita Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/5/$28.20; Long Shots, 9/2/$13.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals - 56/12/$69.60; Long Shots, 27/3/$28.60; Best Bets, 3/0/$0

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #2 Make It Anywhere (3/1) in race 1 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Ari the Adventurer ran second at Aqueduct paying $2.90 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats - 68/39/$376.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick