Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, Dec. 28
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 2-year-olds
4 Justa Gusta - Speedball drops in class in search of a win; that is a winning recipe Steve Knapp likes to use.
5 Cariboo Road - Emerald Downs shipper may not be outclassed in here; exits a local stakes for this $25K price tag.
Long Shot - 3 K Court
Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $58,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
7 Vindicated Ghost - Was my best bet when he won last time; she is clearly a turf sprint specialist.
9 Lemon Hero - Dead late closer should see a fast pace to chase; Rafael Bejarano came out with fire in his eyes on opening day.
Long Shot - 11 Indecise
Race 3 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up
8 Aqua Fever - Is a perfect 7-for-7 in the money on dirt; has a ton of back class to repeat for Jeff Mullins.
3 Global Glow - Claimed by Steve Miyadi, typically a good trainer angle; taking blinkers off for this.
Long Shot - 6 Royal Encounter
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
10 Pick and Pray - Speedball ran great down the hillside course in her lone try; huge class reduction today too.
7 Ms. G. I. Jane - Dead late closer will be value with Agapito Delgadillo up; he's a capable rider, but seldome gets bet.
Long Shot - 11 Ghost N Your Heart
Race 5 - 1 1/8th miles, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
3 Only the Gold - Got smoked as a 3/5 chalk in last; Marty Jones takes the blinkers off, one more shot.
1 Political Man - Dead late closer ships in from Keeneland; Midwest stock is strong as we've seen in SoCal.
Long Shot - 8 Swiss Emperor
Race 6 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up
5 Awesome Year - He broke his maiden over Santa Anita dirt; like the drop in class in a now or never scenario.
8 Clear - Looks bad losing by 13-lengths in last; the winner A Toe By Three flattered by winning next out too.
Long Shot - 7 Jay's Firetruck
Race 7 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Starseeker - John Shirreffs has a 3-horse uncoupled entry; this one is the longest odds, that's why I put her on top.
5 Fantastic Mizz - Two tough beats in a row could be bad luck, or a trend; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.
Long Shot - 3 Dime Piece
Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Allowance, 2-year-olds
4 Super Ninety Nine - Well regarded Bob Baffert colt sired by the late Pulpit; he's supposed to win if he's a real Derby horse.
3 Mico Margarita - This one is meant to be a pure sprinter; suspect races of 1-turn is what he'll do best in.
Long Shot - 1 Distintiv Passion
Race 9 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 2-year-olds
11 Zippingaroundtown - He ran well in last and now takes on a very slow group; speed in a potential no passing zone race.
8 Money Makin Sam - Tried blinkers on in last but with the same result; speed is a good weapon in such a moribund field.
Long Shot - 12 Derringer
Best Bet - 4 Super Ninety Nine (race 8)
Santa Anita Park Wednesday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$19.20; Long Shots, 9/2/$33.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.80
Santa Anita Park Totals - 16/3/$19.20; Long Shots, 9/2/$33.00; Best Bets, 1/1/$4.80
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #1 Shesabronxbomber (7/2) in race 8 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Brilliant Autumn paying $5.80 to win, $3.40 to place and $3.00 to show. Stats - 1/1/$12.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
