Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Jan. 1

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up
5 Glitter of Silver – His lone start over Santa Anita sod was a wire to wire win going a mile; he looks like lone early speed again, the best bet in horse racing.
2 Storm Comin Thru – With Rafael Bejarano off and Flavien Prat on, it may add some value; trainer Doug O'Neill adding blinkers on for more focus early on.
Long Shot – 7 Burnaroundtheedges

Race 2 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
4 Untouchable U – Did not run badly in turf debut in last, but returns to main track today; reunited with Rafael Bejarano, figures to sit mid-pack and make a late brush.
3 Send Me a Sign – Another who ran last on grass, but now switches back to dirt; she ran a good race two back when second, if repeated, could be fast enough to beat these.
Long Shot – 2 Rastanora

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
4 One of the Greats – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; suspect jockey Victor Espinoza will put him on the engine from the get go.
5 Ultra Sharp – Another sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this low rung; key vote for me is Rafael Bejarano takes the call, let his agent do the handicapping.
Long Shot – 7 Zarqa Star

Race 4 – 6 ½ furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
2 Mastes – You've known for the past 18 years how much I like cutback horses; this guy also has some hillside turf course success on his resume, a lot to like.
7 Giant Ego – Tepid chalk is sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; has speed to lead or follow close up, figures to let Back to Bako go early.
Long Shot – 1 Back to Bako

Race 5 – 7 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds
5 Bolitar – Split a 10-horse field in his career debut; HOF trainer Richard Mandella has opted to give up on this one early, dropping in for $30K price tag tonight.
3 Mountain Hero – Has some good early speed in a race devoid of early speed; the lead is always important in a cheap race, that may develop into a no passing zone affair.
Long Shot – 8 Uluckydevil

Race 6 – 6 ½ furlongs, Purse $30,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
3 Miss Fireball – HOF trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has a well earned reputation from making good private purchases from South Florida; this filly could be any kind.
8 Noble Edition – Won easily in her career debut at Los Alamitos; the angle here is who or what did she beat that day, like that she is protected in this spot though.
Long Shot – 7 Star of Munster

Race 7 – 6 ½ furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
9 Pearl de Vere – She has a very good resume down the tricky hillside turf course; has a parking lot post too which is another positive asset, a lot to like.
2 Intoxicating Move – Has been aggressively placed since claimed by trainer Jack Carava four races ago; like the cutback in distance where she will fly home late.
Long Shot – 3 Grazenette

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up
1 Serbian Syclone – Tiny edge in an impossible feature race; exits five straight grass races, but notice her dirt resume includes a handful of stakes races as a 3-YO.
12 Kafister – He has nine career wins so he is not camera shy; tactical speed and Kent Desormeaux to a perfect trip throughout, as I said this is a very difficult race.
Long Shot – 3 Oligarch

Race 9 – 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Claiming $10,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
5 Tell Her Yes – Was ambitiously placed last time off the claim by trainer Jorge Periban; drops back into a spot where she is facing her friends, should wake up.
1 Bench Ruling – Trainer Jonathan Wong may be new to SoCal bettors, but he is well known up north; he wins at a high percentage off the claim, read it in the newspaper.
Long Shot – 3 Flyin for a Livin

Best Bet - 4 Untouchable U (race 2)
Santa Anita Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$28.00; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 49/10/$68.40; Long Shots, 25/5/$44.80; Best Bets, 2/0/$0
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #7 City Steel (15/1) in race 7 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Irish Whisper ran out at Aqueduct. Simo stats - 4/0/$0; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick