Today at Santa Anita Park: Dec. 26, 2013

Post Time Noon

Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Crusher - Chance to close into a modest route pace; last was a career best and first race without wearing blinkers on.

5 Mikey T - Had excuses in the starting gate his last 2 starts; key is a clean break as he is fast enough to compete with these.

Long Shot - 7 Gold Tie Please

Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

5 Battled - Tough DQ in last when finished first but was placed second; Bob Baffert charge has been stabled at Hollywood Park.

3 Profire - Gulfstream Park invader makes his SoCal debut for trainer John Sadler; should move forward on barn switch alone.

Long Shot - 2 Well Lawyered

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Buckingham Bull - Has enough speed to protect her inside post position; saves all the ground and grinds it out late.

2 Cavalletta - This one prefers to rally from much further behind; Dan Hendricks tries blinkers off here for rating tactics.

Long Shot - 4 Joint Attempt

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming 440,000, 3-year-olds and up

9 Big Macher - Huge rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; won the final riding title at Hollywood Park.

8 Five Palms - Bob Baffert gets the services of Joel Rosario for this precocious colt; been working bullets for this try.

Long Shot - 4 Hadfunlastnight

Race 5 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $40,000, Claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Koast - Beat a similar group down the hill last time out; when horses run well down the hill in the past, they tend to repeat.

10 Mr. Bossy Pants - Another horse who likes the hillside turf course; outside posts are preferred over inside down the hill.

Long Shot - 6 Atta Boy Pete

Race 6 - 7 furlongs, $300,000 La Brea, Fillies, 3-year-olds

1 Sweet Lulu - No shame getting defeated in the Breeders’ Cup; this field is loaded, but not as talented as that afternoon.

6 My Happy Face - Eastern shipper is a good one, but maybe a cut below grade 1; she may find a home this year in 1-turn sprints.

Long Shot - 7 Madame Cactus

Race 7 - 1 mile (turf), $200,000 Sir Beaufort, 3-year-olds

8 No Jet Lag - Gets class relief from the Breeders’ Cup Mile for this; big rider switch to Joel Rosario for the money shot.

6 Gervinho - Ran a creditable fourth in the grade 1 Hollywood Derby last out; this is easier, but still a difficult test.

Long Shot - 7 Procurement

Race 8 - 7 furlongs, $300,000 Malibu, 3-year-olds

4 Flashback - Was ridden confidently, maybe too confidently, in the Damascus; suspect Bob Baffert tightened the screws for this.

5 Zeewat - Ran a career best to upset the chalk in the Damascus; should see another wicked early pace to close fast into.

Long Shot - 10 Bakken

Race 9 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 2-year-olds

5 Confisio - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; from the top Mike Mitchell barn.

8 Mr. Cactus - Gets class relief to face much simpler tonight; key vote comes from Rafael Bejarano taking the call.

Long Shot - 9 Toomuchinformation

Best Bet - 8 No Jet Lag (race 7)

Hollywood Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 22/5/$34.00; Long Shots, 11/2/$31.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Final Totals - 455/118/$730.00; Long Shots, 219/37/$367.00; Best Bets, 24/9/$42.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #5 Taylor Jagger (2/1) in race 5 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Fade to Black ran second at Aqueduct paying $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Stats - 197/132/$1,059.20;

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