Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, April 5

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds

1 Thisonesforricky – Tries turf for the first time; with her pedigree by Empire Maker, she should handle the green.

7 Fantastic Mizz – Been in the money all four times on turf; she figures to get the verdict in one of these.

Long Shot – 4 Trojenna

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds and up

1 Streets of Heaven – Turn in a clunker last out, got claimed by Vann Belvoir; his race two back if repeated can win this.

5 Muchos Besos – Claimed by Doug O’Neill after being eased in last; this one is only for forgiving handicappers.

Long Shot – 2 Chinese Praise

Race 3 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Van Brit – Solid second first off the claim by Vann Belvoir; big rider switch to Garrett Gomez for the money shot.

1 Spring Bloom – Takes a class drop to face an easier sort; switch to Corey Nakatani, an outstanding turf rider.

Long Shot – 6 Four Better

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

1 Sweet Nectar – Takes a class drop hoping to win before the meet ends; trainer Vann Belvoir could have a very good day.

6 Bikini Bottom – Sharp maiden claiming win; now facing winners for the first time, is dropped to a winable $25K level.

Long Shot – 3 Abella

Race 5 – 1 1/4 miles (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

1 Noblilis – Simon Callaghan has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; like the Euro shippers going a marathon turf distance.

3 La Zubia – Other half of the Callaghan entry gets Garrett Gomez to ride; will sit in arrears and make one run.

Long Shot – 7 Roxelana

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

6 Fast Stop – Among many taking a serious class drop to face easier; should some early lick in career debut.

2 Check Out My Face – Taking a big class drop from $50K to $30K here; beaten only 3-lengths for second place.

Long Shot – 3 A Thousand Aces

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

1 Sizzlin’ Joe – Ran like a short horse in last off a 7-month hiatus; gets Rafael Bejarano and stretches out in distance.

3 Pulpit’s Express – Lots of Gary Stevens off today as he is riding at Keeneland; Martin Garcia picks up the mount in here.

Long Shot – 5 Unusual Beam

Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

7 Ever Alert – Returns with no chance of being claimed; like that Edwin Maldonado takes the call, he’ll put him into the race.

3 Swiss Emperor – Bit long in the tooth with an 0-for-28 career mark; yet he runs fast enough to upset these one day.

Long Shot – 1 Patriotic Lion

Best Bet – 1 Thisonesforricky (race 1)

Santa Anita Park Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$22.80; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60

Santa Anita Park Totals – 984/262/$1,686.10; Long Shots, 488/63/$710.60; Best Bets, 56/23/$93.40

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #3 Doherty (8/5) in race 3 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Game Ball ran out at Gulfstream Park. Stats – 54/38/$295.70; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick