Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita Park, Jan. 27

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds and up

4 Black Witch – Gutsy second in last for this Bob Baffert filly; barn’s been in a lull this meet, suspect it will change quickly.

1 Temptress – Dull run in debut at Churchill Downs;

Long Shot – 3 Miss Derek

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up

5 Hidden Blessing – Exploded with a sharp wire to wire win in last; hope he can clear Arresting Officer early.

6 Lord Vronsky – Suspect will be a beneficiary if the two speedball duels; Tyler Baze has a cozy post to stalk the pace.

Long Shot – 3 Arresting Officer

Race 3 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, 3-year-olds

1 Grand Giant – Ground saving ride under Rafael Bejarano; will make a difference with the turf rail at zero.

7 Maxx the Giant – Speedball will clear and set the pace; dangerous if left alone for too long.

Long Shot – 8 Rob’s Pal

Race 4 – 1 mile, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

5 Flaxen Maiden – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; switches back from turf to dirt.

6 Sassy Brunette – Orlando Mojica had choices and opted to ride for Art Sherman; he is trying to build up his business.

Long Shot – 2 Warren’s Lorie S.

Race 5 – 7 furlongs, Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Field Report – Like the parking lot post in this elongated sprint; can clock the early speed from the outside.

4 Me Likey Mikey – Really showed improvement in last stretching out around 2-turns; draw a line thru the turf race two back.

Long Shot – 1 Rock Off

Race 6 – 1 mile, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

6 Sir Bond – Steve Asmussen using Corey Nakatani as his first call rider; colt’s best races came over fast dirt.

5 Fit to Rule – Draw a line thru the debacle in the grassy Sir Beaufort; his race two back is fast enough to upset these.

Long Shot – 7 Conspiracy

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

6 Treasury Bill – Ron Ellis colt chased some good ones in debut; took his time and should improve a lot in second career start.

10 Secretsatmidnight – Ran greenly in a well bet debut; very slow early, he was getting into stride but too late.

Long Shot – 5 Okaad

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Splendid Fortune – More Bob Baffert on the card today; if things go well, Baffert could certainly win an equador.

3 Magical Band – Really turned in a top performance last out; she’s run some quick races, fast enough to upset these.

Long Shot – 1 Egg Drop

Race 9 – 7 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds

5 Prime Issue – Speedy sort might just try and bottom out this field; speed is a big asset in such a poor group.

6 Tribal Money – Figures to be the stalker among these; he too improved a lot second time out.

Long Shot – 1 Got Heem

Best Bet – 6 Treasury Bill (race 7)

Santa Anita Park Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$16.20; Long Shots, 8/1/$22.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 335/93/$600.00; Long Shots, 165/22/$261.00; Best Bets, 19/6/$22.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Premier Steps (5/2) in race 10 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Bold Dance ran second at Gulfstream park paying $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Stats – 16/11/$82.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick