Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, February 27

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 7 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

1 Casual Attire – Not sure why Peter Miller is plunging this one down in class; looks like a useful sort in the $25K class.

6 Matzoh Ball Magic – Last race was a solid second in this exact class; won in his one try at this elongated sprint distance.

Long Shot – 3 Hidden Zensation

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

4 Rosewhatenblue – Must stretch back out around 2-turns; has won at the distance and around 2-turns at Del Mar, edge is current fitness.

7 Shopping Savannah – Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; exits three turf routes for this dirt route, will have to step up her game.

Long Shot – 6 Toomanytomatoes

Race 3 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $45,000, Claiming $50,000, 4-year-olds and up

8 Which Market – Can be excused last time in first race off a 2-month hiatus; like that Rafael Bejarano remains loyal to the cause.

7 Horizontalyspeakin – Turned in a really nice effort last time out; has good speed and tends to do best when he is on the lead.

Long Shot – 5 Te Rapa

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

3 Dixie Dame – Claimed by Philip D’Amato, which is a very good thing; he takes the blinkers off, expect immediate improvement.

2 Gold Locket – Was grinding well for second in her career debut; Bruce Headley is never one to rush, sho she must be ready for better.

Long Shot – 8 Tamka

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

9 McHeat – Was a beaten favorite on turf last time out; he’s an Unusual Heat so he figures to be pretty strong on grass.

2 Chanito – Turned in a much improved effort on turf last time; speedy sort will be aided with the turf rail out 24 feet.

Long Shot – 1 Papa Z

Race 6 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds

4 Cyrus Alexander – There still is hope that he can be a Triple Crown participant; I would think he’d be an interesting Belmont horse.

3 Eckersley – Suspect he’s named after the Hall of Fame closer Dennis; broke his MSW on turf and now switches back over to dirt.

Long Shot – 2 Harmonic

Race 7 – 1 1/4 miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up

7 Awesome Return – A rider like Mike Smith makes a big difference in a marathon; key is getting his horse to relax and last the trip.

1 Joes Blazing Aaron – Has east coast class which could hold up well in here; Jeff Mullins barn is frigid as an iceberg right now.

Long Shot – 9 Play Hard to Get

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

3 Win Wish – Last race is fast enough to beat these if repeated; suspect will try to wire the field with a speed effort.

5 Oil – Been away 10-months since an even debut; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

Long Shot – 1 Arctic Code

Best Bet – 8 Which Market (race 3)

Santa Anita Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$22.20; Long Shots, 7/1/$10.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals – 606/162/$1,028.60; Long Shots, 306/43/$417.80; Best Bets, 37/15/$67.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #8 Megyns Gold (2/1) in race 9 at Oaklawn Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Quiet Hour won at Gulfstream Park paying $7.00 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.60 to show. Stats – 31/22/$142.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick