Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, October 1
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up
3 Zendai – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; this is a very slow group, has run a few races already fast enough to beat these.
5 Royal Rebel – HOF trainer Bob Baffert also drops this cull down from MSW to maiden claiming; key for me is Baffert has a very high strike rate with his maiden claimers.
Long Shot – 2 Casuality
Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
2 Golds Venice – Could be the end of a very chalky daily double and a short priced start to the pick 5; the biggest class drop there is from MSW to maiden claiming.
5 Miss Star Maker – Ran a career best race last time when placed second on a DQ; this is a field full of slowpokes, so a repeat race will be good enough to cash a paycheck.
Long Shot – 7 Chicago Angel
Race 3 – 7 furlongs, Purse $29,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
1 Out of Patience – Ran a decent third in last first off the claim by A. C. Avila; like the cut back in distance from a 2-turn mile for this elongated sprint.
3 Market Notes – Start of the Pick 6 with a carryover of $62K; this one beat cheaper in a condition claimer, now moves up in class, ran an okay speed figures for these.
Long Shot – 6 Chief Lion
Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $24,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
1 Tulira Castle – Trainer Ron Ellis doesn’t claim many, but when he does he is deadly; if this one can maintain his sharp form, no reason he can’t repeat in here.
5 Broadway Nika – Claimed by trainer Peter Miller off a nice win over cheaper stock; climbs the class ladder but the key is he’s a sharp horse on a positive form cycle.
Long Shot – 3 Volkonsky
Race 5 – 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up
1 Boone Docks – This is a paceless looking field going a mile; suspect he could be sent to the lead from the inside with the turf rail out 24 feet which aids early speed.
6 Big Discovery – Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; this is a dangerous race to complete the pick 5 and be in the pick 6; with a good trip, many horses can win this.
Long Shot – 2 Paythebank
Race 6 – 1 mile, Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds
7 Bellamentary – Trainer Philip D’Amato has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; this one looked good closing well in debut, the uncoupled stablemate BTW is Blessherheart.
8 Shakti – Showed decent speed in second career start; some of these babies look like underachievers so if one can pop up and show improvement, chance to spring an upset.
Long Shot – 6 Structure
Race 7 – 6 ½ furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $53,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
10 Glory – Tiny edge in what is the hardest race on the card; remember that down the hillside turf course, the parking lot posts are preferred, could be flying fast late.
7 Thundering Gale – Tepid chalk has a solid turf resume going long mostly; like cutbacks, as you should know by now, so this filly can sit back and make one brush.
Long Shot – 4 Codacious
Race 8 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $28,000, Optional claiming $32,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds
7 Sharp Holiday – We’ve covered this before that when Rafael Bejarano stays for a cheap final race, it’s usually a good sign; gets major class relief from the Barretts.
4 Dragon Flower – Abolutely brutal defeat in last when did all the dirty work and lost a head bob; I feel for the smaller outfits as they have so little margin for error.
Long Shot – 3 Public House
Best Bet - 1 Tulira Castle (race 4)
Santa Anita Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/4/$29.40; Long Shots, 9/2/$20.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 38/7/$37.00; Long Shots, 25/5/$83.80; Best Bets, 2/1/$2.20
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #7 Infinite Wisdom (9/5) in race 3 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Blue Pigeon ran out at Belmont Park. Stats - 145/95/$714.90; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
