Today at Santa Anita: June 22, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming 412,500, 3-year-olds

3 Cousin Ricky – All the wheels came off last time; he ran 3 strong races before that, albeit for his old trainer Jeff Mullins.

4 Diamonddusted – The fact that she is a filly doesn’t hinder my support; this is a slow group and she still has room to improve.

Long Shot – 6 W. Giles

Race 2 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $10,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Xuang Feng – Claimed by Bob Hess after 2 gritty wins; deserving favorite if he can repeat the effort a third straight time.

4 My Jealous – Has won 2-of-3 since claimed by Doug O’Neill; the barn continues white hot so he just needs to maintain his top form.

Long Shot – 3 Hamiltonian

Race 3 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Lakota Road – Made her first trip down the hill a winning one; you like to see that as the hill is such a tricky curving course.

5 Sunset Skies – Her debut down the hill was a fast closing third; Dan Blacker may have found her hole card on the turf course.

Long Shot – 4 Underhill Drive

Race 4 – 5 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Nikki Allyn – Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this bottom level; it helps that she is from the top Peter Miller barn.

3 Spirit of Ten – The only horse in the field to have finished in the money; been away 7-months, but is from the crafty Julio Canani barn.

Long Shot – 6 Giddy Up Cowgirl

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Heat Trap – Notice how often the 5th race is the most difficult on the card; has won 3-of-5 on turf, but is unproven at the distance.

4 Oscar Party – Like the cut back in distance; great to see Kent Desormeaux so engaged in riding again, one of the all-time greats.

Long Shot – 3 Bee Brave

Race 6 – 5 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Hollywood Producer – Has started poorly in both career starts; she runs pretty well once she leaves the starting gate.

6 Italian Harmony – Oscar Garcia adding blinkers on, has to help, it can’t hurt; this is one sorry looking field, good luck.

Long Shot – 1 Senso

Race 7 – 5 1/2 furlongs, $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile, 2-year-olds

4 Holiday Camp – No matter how good these 2-YOs look, they can’t be the barn’s best; the Derby point system preaches patience.

7 Henry’s Holiday – Doug O’Neill has an uncoupled entry, so caveat emptor; either one can get the job done, watch the tote for clues.

Long Shot – 5 Wake Up Nick

Race 8 – 5 1/2 furlongs, $125,000 Landaluce, Fillies, 2-year-olds

1 Seduire – The rail should help in this abbreviated sprint; like I said in the race before, we won’t see the best 2-YOs right now.

9 Enchanting Lady – Rematch with Seduire as they dueled in their debut; this one was the 2/5 price and was obviously well meant.

Long Shot – 4 Morning Coffee

Race 9 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $56,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Willy Be Wild – I like a parking lot post for going down the hillside turf course; Marty Jones babies improve with experience.

5 Unusual Taste – Logical chalk off a good second down the hill in last; was 17/1 odds that day, may be unappetizing this afternoon.

Long Shot – 3 Specimen

Best Bet – 1 Xuang Feng (race 2)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/6/$39.40; Long Shots, 8/1/$16.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$11.20

Santa Anita Park Totals – 562/152/$1,057.00; Long Shots, 273/38/$357.40; Best Bets, 32/10/$41.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Jolene (8/1) in race 2 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, St. Moose ran third at Belmont Park paying $2.70 to show. Stats – 96/58/$570.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick