Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, March 14

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $20,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Perfect Set – Sliding down the claiming ladder where these will be his friends; tactical speed to sit mid-pack and come grinding late.

7 Jackson Sundown – Claimed by Anthony Saavedra, a name I have not heard in a long time; key vote comes from Rafael Bejarano.

Long Shot – 3 Fast Mast

Race 2 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

5 Satin Cinnamon – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Peter Eurton also adding blinkers on for this.

1 Fab Four Ever – Interesting switch to Rafael Bejarano; there must be a good reason he rides this Eddie Truman cull.

Long Shot – 6 Bert’s Baby

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds

6 Como Mi Padre – Tiny edge in the hardest race on the card; if you must make sure you go deep if not all to stay alive.

8 Jedi Mind Trick – Tepid chalk in a really difficult heat; not sure why this wasn’t place as the fifth so it messes up all of our bets.

Long Shot – 2 Sir Barclay

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Kiss At Midnight – Did everything but win last time in a gallant effort; draws the rail where she’ll save every inch of ground.

8 Grey Girl Gone – Expect a bullet fast delivery under Tyler Baze; he is among the best gate riders in the country, much less SoCal.

Long Shot – 4 Big Break

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), $100,000 Irish O’Brien, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

6 Velvet Mesquite – If you’ve read my comments over the years, you know I like outer posts down the hill; Mike Smith will be in control.

4 Go West Marie – This could be an exciting stretch duel; I envision two HOF riders in Mike Smith and Gary Stevens duking it out late.

Long Shot – 2 Demonica

Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

1 Sidepocket Champ – This bugboy isn’t much as yet, but it’s horse racing not jockey racing; blinkers off, just sned him kid.

2 Coolington – If Rafael Bejarano can enter the stretch close to Sidepocket Champ, I’ll like his chances; champ versus a green bugboy.

Long Shot – 8 Takem by Surprise

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Forest Chatter – Don’t like the post, but this horse loves the hillside turf course; has gotten better with every start.

3 Skylander – Kent Desormeaux continues to amaze with his consistent riding; expect him to sit mid-pack and unlease turning for home.

Long Shot – 6 Fighter Squadron

Race 8 – 1 1/8th miles, $400,000 Santa Margarita, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Cassatt – Good job by the racing office to recruit seom good looking fillies to SoCal; this is a weak local division for sure.

7 Warren’s Veneda – Not sure what she has beaten in her last two starts, but give her credit; this will be an acid test for class.

Long Shot – 3 Dame Dorothy

Race 9 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

12 Paulina’s Love – When most seem shy about passing others, let’s give the speedball out top pick; catch her if you can.

2 Foolish Ways – If the race falls apart late, expect Joe Talamo to come flying late; will sit in arrears and hope for a speed duel.

Long Shot – 10 Zip N Bayou

Best Bet – 6 Velvet Mesquite (race 5)

Santa Anita Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/4/$26.00; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80

Santa Anita Totals – 756/198/$1,258.60; Long Shots, 381/56/$560.00; Best Bets, 46/18/$79.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #1 Tapiture (5/2) in race 8 at Oaklawn Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Dragonberry ran third at Aqueduct paying $2.50 to show. Stats – 37/28/$183.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick