Horse racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, Dec. 28
December 28, 2014 - 12:05 am
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds
6 Sir Barclay - Exits a sharp win for Vann Belvoir and Rafael Bejarano; nice post to stalk the early speed and grind late.
3 Sudden Rumor - Lost precious position early in last; showed some good energy when got clear late.
Long Shot - 4 Twenty Percent
Race 2 - 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
6 Tough Sunday - Did everything but win last time in a big effort; caveat is he’s broken slowly in both of his career starts.
3 Price of Glory - The two blinkers on races he’s shown a lot of early speed; should be a good strategy for today too.
Long Shot - 4 Stormin Trick
Race 3 - 7 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
1 Afleet Echo - Don’t like the post, but I do like the cut back in distance; Rafael Bejarano will sit a trip and fire fast late.
9 Private Marina - Another cutting back in distance to this elongated sprint; blinkers on and weight off with 7-pound bugboy Nicholas.
Long Shot - 4 She’s Discreet
Race 4 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
8 Koot Kat - Her one turf win came at this mile distance; figures to be forwardly placed with a slow pace to chase.
11 Hijra - Tepid chalk in a really wide open affair; has good tactical speed and a jockey who always saves for the finish.
Long Shot - 2 Go West Marie
Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up
5 Nowalking - Just seem to be picking Rafael Bejarano horses; the man is very live today so let’s see how many he piles up.
7 Little Curlin - Was well placed in last but didn’t finish like I thought he would; capable of improving a step or two.
Long Shot - 6 Opsec
Race 6 - ^ 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $40,000, Claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
4 Snowday - Claimed by the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer, expect improvement tonight; another live mount for Rafael Bejarano.
3 No Jet Lag - Gets class relief after a poor try in the Green Flash; nothing wrong with having Kieren Fallon riding for you.
Long Shot - 6 Luckarack
Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs, $75,000 Kalookan Queen, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
2 Awesome Baby - Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; this filly has won off long layoffs in the past.
6 Lexington Pearl - She has a good resume from South Florida; has been away since January but maybe needed to regroup some.
Long Shot - 8 Tribal Gal
Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), $100,000 Daytona, 3-year-olds and up
1 Sweet Swap - He loves the downhill turf course and finally gets back on it; must overcome a tough inside post.
11 Lil Bit O’Fun - A parking lot post down the hill is actually an advantage; like the cut back in distance, will fly fast late.
Long Shot - 9 Bettys Bambino
Race 9 - 1 mile, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 2-year-olds
8 Congrats Seattle - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; like the cut back in distance too.
5 Oh Newman - Ran well against a competitive group at Del Mar; Philip D’Amato barn is running hot so watch out.
Long Shot - 4 Whisky Wild
Best Bet - 6 Tough Sunday (race 2)
Santa Anita Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/3/$29.60; Long Shots, 9/2/$21.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 36/7/$57.40; Long Shots, 18/2/$21.20; Best Bets, 2/0/$0
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #6 Senso (9/5) in race 1 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Spa City Fever was scratched at Aqueduct. Stats - 1/1/$5.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick