Today at Santa Anita: Sept. 28, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA by Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 7 furlongs, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Quinnette - The last two races stunk at Del Mar; she returns to dirt where her resume is many lengths better and faster.

1 Itz a Saint - Nice try in last first race off the claim by Richard Baltas; handled the class rise well as she does have some back class.

Long Shot - 7 Nueva Fortuna

Race 2 - 1 mile, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

9 Midnight Candy - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much to graduate with these.

8 Yes Yes Baroness - Another taking a big class drop from MSW; didn’t show much in debut, but this group is miles slower.

Long Shot - 7 Gen of a Gal

Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Cherubim - Tried turf for the first time last out; didn’t fare well, returns to dirt where he is 4-for-4 in the money.

6 Kristo - Since this is NW2L, none of these are big on winning; last try was a much improved effort and now cuts back in distance.

Long Shot - 7 Back Off Buddy

Race 4 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

4 Silver Torch - The team of Kent Desormeaux and Bob Hess lit things up at Del Mar; switches from synthetics to turf tonight.

8 Mr. Excavator - Green debut, slow early, fast late; have to think whith his Smar Strike pedigree he will have a big upside.

Long Shot - 3 Son of War

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Zippingaroundtown - Saul Arias takes over for Iggy Puglisi tonight; has shown plenty of speed but no stick to stay until the end.

3 Cuzan - Takes a huge class drop to face easier; failed as a bonus horse in last, but figures to show improvement on the drop.

Long Shot - 7 Awesome Indy

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

2 Daddy’s Duo - Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this career low class; the two Desormeauxs, Kent and Keith, team up.

7 Zippinaroundtown - Ran a solid second in last despite a meager Beyer speed figure; key for me is she will pass other horses.

Long Shot - 9 Sister Hubert

Race 7 - 1 1/4 miles (turf), $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship, 3-year-olds and up

1 Big John B - Has improved by leaps and bounds since joining the Philip D’Amato barn; may be this good as he won as he pleased.

7 Big Kick - I am willing to forgive his awful line in the American St. Leger; it was a complete non-effort, now he returns home.

Long Shot - 8 Bright Thought

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

9 Megyns Gold - She is strictly the one to beat in this spot; has coughed up the lead in her last two starts, but is very fast indeed.

8 Moons Over Me - Typical green debut, slow early, fast late; figures to improve with experience as most talented babies will.

Long Shot - 4 Girl Downstairs

Race 9 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

6 Charlie’s Angel - Deep respect for the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer with this first time U.S. filly; runs first time with Lasix too.

5 Margot Machance - Gets class relief from a series for stakes for this; chance to regroup facing an easier test.

Long Shot - 9 Disregarded

Best Bet - 2 Daddy’s Duo (race 6)

Santa Anita Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 22/6/$24.60; Long Shots, 11/1/$14.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.40

Santa Anita Totals - 38/10/$45.60; Long Shots, 19/2/$22.00; Best Bets, 2/2/$5.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #2 Startup Nation (2/1) in race 9 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Palace ran third at Belmont Park paying $2.50 to show. Stats - 150/87/$813.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick