Horse racing: Today at Santa Anita, Feb. 9

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

9 Waitwaitdonttellme – Good horses usually have good names, so what gives with this one; closed stoutly in last turf route.

4 Troy Story – Solid speed run in last to just miss; like that Rafael Bejarano remains loyal to the cause.

Long Shot – 11 Empty Headed

Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, 4-year-olds and up

3 First Strike – Gets class relief as he ran in a tough stakes two races back; should find his friends at this low level.

1 Chicsdigtheshark – Speedball win in last off a 2-month hiatus; Bill Spawr has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor.

Long Shot – 5 Tiz Dynamic

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds

2 He’s Not too Shabby – Has large time gaps in his resume; still each race was good and from a respected barn in Jeff Mullins.

5 Judge Carr – Broke his maiden nicely for a $50K price tag; should have a puncher’s chance at a square price.

Long Shot – 4 I’m Not Gray

Race 4 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

6 Kings Giant – Dead late closer showed good improvement in second career start; tiny edge in a wide open scrum.

11 Examen – Leap of faith that the Tom Proctor-Garrett Gomez team stays hot; was favored at Arlington in his career debut.

Long Shot – 8 Syndicated

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

3 Trice Up – Brutal beat last time under a perfect ride by Gary Stevens; he’s been unlucky with 9 seconds.

6 Harlington Night – If you like a did not finish line, then this is your animal; lost rider at the start in last.

Long Shot – 8 Already Rockin

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $58,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

10 Hidinginplainsight – Speedball will try to take advantage of the turf rail out 8 feet; no sense playing coy here.

6 Belle de Lune – More Tom Proctor-Garrett Gomez action; lost last to a talented filly in Indecise.

Long Shot – 12 Nospeightintended

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

5 Zee Bros – FTS from Bob Baffert is working fast, what else; watch the tote board for additional clues.

3 Bench Press – John Sadler has an uncoupled entry and both appear capable of graduating; nice improvement expected.

Long Shot – 1 Joelito

Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

3 Pride of Silver – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; need not be much to boss these.

7 Spit Ball – Broke his maiden off the claim by Vann Belvoir; suspect he’s able to compete facing winners for the first time.

Long Shot – 8 Last Memories

Race 9 – 1 1/4 miles (turf, rail at 8 feet), $150,000 San Marcos, 4-year-olds and up

1 Interaction – Ron McAnally has had a small resurgence of sorts; Hall of Famers don’t forget how to train horses.

2 Juniper Pass – Sneaky pick in a wide open race; reunited with Rafael Bejarano, the trip will mean everything.

Long Shot – 5 Richard’s Kid

Race 10 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

9 Chico Suerte – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; his race two back would beat these.

10 Captain Hadley – Closed strongly in last on the drop; Aaraon Gryder will need to carve out a trip from a parking lot post.

Long Shot – 4 Duke Street King

Best Bet – 3 Pride of Silver (race 8)

Santa Anita Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$32.40; Long Shots, 8/2/$24.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 449/127/$825.90; Long Shots, 222/27/$311.00; Best Bets, 25/8/$32.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Flat Out (3/1) in race 11 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Gold Vegas won at Gulfstream Park paying $4.60 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats – 23/17/$119.10; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick