Today at Santa Anita

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Pastoria – Third start off a year hiatus; has plenty of early speed, but has room for further improvement.

8 Spacecoast – Logical chalk off four in the money finishes in a row; has tactical speed to attend the early pace.

Long Shot – 3 Hello Stormy

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $35,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Circular Logic – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; from the hot Mike Mitchell barn.

5 Channel of a Gold – Gulfstream invader makes her SoCal debut; key is she has never raced over organic dirt.

Long Shot – 4 Malibu Honey

Race 3 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, Fillies, 4-year-olds

4 Funny Belle – Solid class drop off a strong second in last; single to start the pick 6, C/O of $47K tonight.

7 Distant Image – For forgiving handicappers; her last race was horrible, her race two back can upset these.

Long Shot – 1 Four Better

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

5 Streets of Heaven – Very quietly, Richard Baltas barn is heating up; another taking a solid class drop.

4 Bet On Victor – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; need not be much to beat this bunch.

Long Shot – 7 Idontrollonshabbos

Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $35,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds

2 Senor Rain – Claimed by the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer off a strong second; like the cut back in distance.

4 Sir Allison – Bob Baffert cull could stand out with this group; won the last time he ran for $40K.

Long Shot – 6 Tummel

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

7 Catienus Gold – Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; has speed and underrated Edwin Maldonado.

8 Mary Contrary – Exits two good thirds in a row; has tactical speed to stalk the early pace.

Long Shot – 9 Raven Wild

Race 7 – 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

3 Hail Mary – Mike Mitchell filly was a good winner in debut; she could have a high ceiling as a 1-turn distaffer.

1 Good Party – Gets class relief off an awful turf run in last; kind of race to rebuild her confidence.

Long Shot – 2 Awesome Annie

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

9 Goodbye Charlie – Speedball has given up the lead late in last two starts; needs to show a killer instinct tonight.

7 Ruled by Kisses – Claimed by Jerry Hollendorfer who can have a big day today; like that Rafael Bejarano takes over.

Long Shot – 11 Solid South

Best Bet – 2 Senor Rain (race 5)

Santa Anita Park Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/4/$29.40; Long Shots, 8/1/$9.00; Best Bet, 0/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals – 433/122/$793.50; Long Shots, 214/25/$287.00; Best Bets, 24/8/$32.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #5 Gold Vegas (2/1) in race 6 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Warm Hugs ran out at Gulfstream Park. Stats – 22/16/$109.70; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick