Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, October 15

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds

3 Ultimate Luck – The last win at Los Alamitos, the Bueva Vista, was a glorified starter allowance condition; take nothing away from him, he fits well here too.

5 Strong Like Bull – I’m not a big fan of back horses off their maiden win unless they showed something extra; this one did win like he may have more in the tank.

Long Shot – 6 Bluegrass Sight

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

6 Street Goddess – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; no matter how slow they look, this is a magical change for the better.

1 Pirate Flag – Claimed by trainer Ed Moger, Jr. and aggressively raised in class; there are no world beaters in here so one step of improvement might be enough.

Long Shot – 2 Room On the Broom

Race 3 – 6 ½ furlongs (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $40,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Pepnic – Came off a brief hiatus for trainer Bill Spawr and landed in the winner’s circle; her two wins in the Spawr barn have come when he races for a price tag.

1 Clever royal – This is clearly two things I consider in my favor; he is dropping down in class and also cutting back in distance, plus gets a positive rider change.

Long Shot – 3 Jazzy Josh

Race 4 – 1 mile, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 2-year-olds

2 Afleet Domination – Did everything but win last time in a solid second; was claimed by Rafael Becerra who jumps him up one level in class, repeat race can win this.

6 Money Makin Mike – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; was well bet in debut and now main man Rafael Bejarano takes over.

Long Shot – 5 Nicaradalic Rocks

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $28,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Bijoux – Been away 15-months but returns in a very winnable spot; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming for trainer John Sadler.

4 Ya Ya Girl – In all five of her career starts for a price tag, she has finished in the money; for a maiden that could be a negative stat of a nibbler, or maybe overdue.

Long Shot – 5 Arewehavingfunyet

Race 6 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Moscato Girl – She has gone up and down the claiming ladder enough to know these are her friends; speed to lead or to follow the early leaders close up.

5 Lil Cheyenne – Cuts back dramatically in distance from two 2-turn mile routes for this; it isn’t the most difficult group so she should fit in nicely.

Long Shot – 1 Runningwiththelute

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $53,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

10 What a View – If you’ve been watching trainer Kenny Black’s horses, they have been running very well; must overcome a parking lot post, but fits very well in here.

2 It Is Living Water – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low level; big rider switch to Victor Espinoza who is living the life of Riley since the Triple Crown.

Long Shot – 4 Rainbow North

Race 8 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

12 Kiana’s Dream – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom rung; key for me is her debut MSW race is better than looked, can be the danger on the cheap.

11 Take it Easyplease – Beaten favorite in last ran an OK second; thing is this is an awful group so someone who shows any ability at all will get some play.

Long Shot – 9 Elimination Round

Best Bet - 2 Afleet Domination (race 4)

Santa Anita Monday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/4/$23.60; Long Shots, 9/3/$42.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals - 188/41/$242.60; Long Shots, 95/23/$301.40; Best Bets, 9/3/$11.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #6 Anna Creek (8/5) in race 4 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Monday, Puppy Manners ran third at Belmont Park paying $3.00 to show. Stats - 153/102/$763.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick