Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, Jan. 10
January 10, 2013 - 2:02 am
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds
3 Tiz Minister - Clearly has the best resume and speed figures among this group; best stride will come in the latter stages.
2 Greeley Awesome - Exciting 9-lengths win, over what we're not sure of; improving sort for Doug O'Neill.
Long Shot - 1 Ebony Gold
Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
1 Quick Wampum - Speed and the rail can be a winning combination; tiny edge in a very difficult heat.
7 Forty Paces - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low level; need not be much to earn a solid paycheck.
Long Shot - 3 Magic Mama
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up
6 Valley of Kings - Strong SoCal debut when second in last; figures to improve second time out for Bob Hess.
3 Parliamentarian - Good horses usually have good names, I like this name; been away a full year for Bruce Headley.
Long Shot - 4 Hi Chooch
Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Claiming $16,000, 4-year-olds and up
5 Bet On Victor - Returns to the $16K level that he last won at; should find these are his friends tonight.
4 Half Dome Dude - Exploded in the lane easily beating a motley crew in last; big class rise, at least we know he is sharp.
Long Shot - 1 Hard Bill
Race 5 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $45,000, Claiming $50,000, Fillies, 4-year-olds
6 Blushing Martha - Has won 2-of-4 start on grass; this is another tough heat, edge maybe to cagey Rafael Bejarano.
10 Belle Passe - Tepid chalk draws a favorable parking lot post down the hillside turf course; tactical speed to gain position early.
Long Shot - 9 River Kiss
Race 6 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds
5 Tribal Custom - I like when horses win in last with a much slower Beyer; suspect she can ran back to the better fig two back.
1 Funny Gal - If my top 3 choices come to the wire together, Trevor Denman may be tongue tied; exiting two sharp victories.
Long Shot - 6 Tribal Gal
Race 7 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $65,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 4-year-olds and up
5 Willyconker - Great claim by Doug O'Neill a while back; third start off the layoff points to an improving cycle here.
3 Clubhouse Ride - Stretching out in distance to one mile; suspect Aaron Gryder will sit chilly and make one brush.
Long Shot - 1 Key Decision
Race 8 - 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
1 Unusual Darling - I like betting horses that didn't finish last time out; handicappers tend to draw a line thru them, prematurely.
9 Zerbinetta - Will be way overbet off an amazing race last time; started poorly, trailed, then came flying late to just miss.
Long Shot - 2 Mending Wall
Best Bet - 3 Tiz Minister (race 1)
Santa Anita Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/7/$69.80; Long Shots, 9/2/$20.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80
Santa Anita Park Totals - 146/38/$271.00; Long Shots, 74/14/$175.60; Best Bets, 8/4/$15.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #4 Centrique (6/5) in race 5 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Sheza Classy Lady ran third at Aqueduct paying $2.20 to show. Stats - 6/3/$19.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick