HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Claiming $40,000, Fillies, 4-year-olds
Fletchers Cove - The shortest price of the day will come in the very first race; Baffert cull easily runs fast enough to be worth $40k.
Mimosa Mist - Dead late closer fired last time in the lowest class of horses she's ever faced; no problem with Espinoza taking over.
Long Shot - Light Fingers
Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds
Bright Prediction - If you've been reading my daily handicapping, you'll know my respect for Sherman; suspect this guy can bounce back.
Golden Wager - Hate that he was claimed from Mullins, but like that Espinoza is taking the call; tepid favorite won't have it easy.
Long Shot - National Honor
Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up
The Big One - There should be enough speed to set up for his closing style; he clearly is a money burner, beaten six times as the chalk.
Tavros - Suspect of the speedballs in the field, he will grab the early lead; Talamo continues to impress keeping his mounts going.
Long Shot - Reach for Gold
Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, $75,000 Santa Lucia Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Neuilly - In a race this evenly matched, you could do worse than backing a Frankel mare; been away 6-months, the barn gets them ready.
Kris' Sis - Tepid chalk in an incredibly wide open stakes; she has a lot of speed and Espinoza may opt to pop the gate and keep going.
Long Shot - Vanguarda
Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $50,000, Claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Christmas Stocking - May have been moved too soon in last and gave up the lead late; productive claim by Carava, she gets class relief.
Thrill After Dark - Figures to be the pacesetter and draws the rail to optimize her early speed; goes as fast and as far as she can.
Long Shot - Feel Ridge
Race 6 - 7 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up
Key Maker - Claimed by Marlow and spotted nicely for an immediate return on investment; his race two back would blow these away.
Secret Ridge - Another just off the claim, if can repeat his last effort he'll be right there again; short price for low percentage barn.
Long Shot - Lone Prairie
Race 7 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), $100,000 La Puente, 3-year-olds
Streets Ahead - Didn't run his race at Woodbine 7-months ago, now joins the Drysdale barn to regroup; was highly regarded in England.
Desert Code - Hasn't done much wrong, but switching from the hillside course to a 2-turn mile is a big change; strictly the one to beat.
Long Shot - Star Inside
Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $46,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Distorted View - Baffert has an uncoupled entry in here, how many times does the longer price outrun the chalk; ran well in her debut.
Into Reality - She figures to get pounded as she's run just good enough to lose so far; Baffert go to rider Espinoza has this one.
Long Shot - Spring Catch
Race 9 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $36,000, 4-year-olds and up
Eastern Sand - Mullins puts his horses where they can win, that's certainly the case here; red flag drop but like the Mig on board.
Blue Stellar - Got a perfect ride from Castro in last to just miss; gets weight off with Talamo, who continues to impress SoCal fans.
Long Shot - General Fox
Race 10 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds
Afleet Aloha - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to claiming; Talamo is my early choice for leading rider at Hollywood.
Snark - Claimed by Chew and dropped to the bottom right off the bat; red flag for most, but this is a small barn that needs to win.
Long Shot - Home of the Bold
Best Bet - Fletchers Cove (race 1)
Santa Anita Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/2/$5.60; Long Shots, 7/1/$26.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 1,297/342/$2,231.80; Long Shots, 649/72/$968.40; Best Bets, 75/30/$122.20
