HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Tashzara - Like the turn back in distance from route to elongated sprint; expect a big closing effort today.

1 Candace Gold - Appears to be the speed of the speed in here; will relish the turf rail out 15 feet for this.

Long Shot - 7 Cute N Sassy

Race 2 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 Twodollarstowin - Was outquicked last time in an elongated sprint; figures to like today's slower 2-turn pace.

2 Sunny Peace - Logical chalk was a gritty winner in this class last time; does not need the lead to succeed.

Long Shot - 5 Akeela

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds

5 Dancing At Dark - Not much to mull over in this 6-pack turf route; beaten favorite can only run better tonight.

6 Mazarron - His one turf try was an ambitious run in the grade 3 Generous; this is a much easier spot in here.

Long Shot - 3 American Wildcat

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Balboa Bay - Adding blinkers on after a solid try last time; one-step improvement can win this.

4 Preferred Behavior - Beaten favorite finished right with the top choice in last; could be a dual dogfight.

Long Shot - 3 Afleet Cowboy

Race 5 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

7 Requisition - Has shown steady improvement with every start; a repeat of his last race is fast enough to win.

4 Proud Hillbilly - Been away a full year; the key vote is from Garrett Gomez who is still in search of a new agent.

Long Shot - 3 Dime

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

6 Zees Chris - Ran a clunker in last, but her prior races are OK; need not be much in a field full of slowpokes.

1a Warren's Peacock - Entry is a heavy favorite, but the kind I like to try and beat; exiting a turf route for this.

Long Shot - 2 Toscanova

Race 7 - 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

10 Lady Sweetness - Was well-regarded in debut, they produced winning her second start; she is a Candy Ride with a high ceiling.

5 Dani Reese - Hard-fought win, but stays in this condition racing for a price tag; figures to be flying fast late.

Long Shot - 8 River Glow

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

4 Liberal Arts - Ran like a short horse in his first start off a 7-month hiatus; should be much tighter second time out.

3 Mr. Sierra - Hard to believe Garrett Gomez is not in Dubai right now; he'll have to settle for smaller fish to fry.

Long Shot - 2 Warren's Tiger

Best Bet - 10 Lady Sweetness (race 7)

Santa Anita Park Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$13.80; Long Shots, 5/2/$17.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals - 904/251/$1,593.50; Long Shots, 451/68/$658.20; Best Bets, 53/24/$96.10

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - 7 Noontime Diva (5/2) in race 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Clean Shot ran second at Gulfstream Park paying $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Stats - 51/38/$289.70