Today at Santa Anita Park: May 18, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 4 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

7 Desert Thief - Been working well for debut for Caesar Dominguez; FTS should be talking on the tote board.

3 City Ride - Beaten favorite couldn’t get out of her own way in debut; suspect you’ll get much more value this afternoon.

Long Shot - 6 Take Back Spring

Race 2 - 1 1/4 miles (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Scooter Bird - Marathon distance is a gallopers race; this one is surely a galloper as he dawdles along early in the race.

4 Tiz the Key - Her big MSW win last time came on the main track; has one turf race which was nothing special, vulnerable chalk maybe?

Long Shot - 7 Remarkable Moon

Race 3 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

6 Rough Passage - Will be missing his regular rider Rafael Bejarano; he’ll be out a minimum of two months, likely longer.

1 Shakahari - Speedball draws the rail for the shortest way home; gets 5-pounds off with bugboy Drayden Van Dyke.

Long Shot - 5 Vegas Strip

Race 4 - 1 mile, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $20,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Sweetrayofsunshine - Will have to overcome a parking lot post with a short run to the first turn; Bill Spawr barn has been hot lately.

2 My Monet - Speedball blasted off in last for an easy win; simple tactics of go as far and as fast as she can.

Long Shot - 4 Quinnette

Race 5 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Advisory - Turning to turf has really turned his game around; was nothing on dirt of synthetics, a tiger on turf.

3 Indygo Andy - Won a sharp verdict with Kent Desormeaux up two races back; Kent returned at a good time, for him with Rafael Bejarano out.

Long Shot - 7 Gallant Charm

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Ipolita - Returns to the maiden claiming $30K price she did well in two races ago; facing a slow group, needs one step improvement.

5 L X Sunrise - Ran a good second off the claim by Danny Velasquez; has some back speed races that are fast enough to upset these.

Long Shot - 2 Broadway Bella

Race 7 - 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Vibrato Jazz - Big class drop and switch to HOF Mike Smith are serious changes; will sit in arrears and make one big brush.

8 Husband’s Folly - Claimed by Jack Carava and spotted nicely to win first out; like that Corey Nakatani remains loyal to the cause.

Long Shot - 4 Mr. Candy Bar

Race 8 - 1 1/16th miles, $100,000 Adoration, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Let Faith Arise - Did not bring her A game to Oaklawn Park for the Apple Blossom; she loves Arcadia and should rebound nicely.

8 Spellbound - She has it in her to upset; key is she is an in and outer, ran poorly in last, maybe tonight is the good run.

Long Shot - 4 Yahilwa

Race 9 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds

11 Home Run Kitten - Has been on the verge of earning some black type; this spot should be easier, just a condition race, not a stakes.

9 Home School - Respect for the red hot Doug O’Neill barn; this one figures to be forwardly placed throughout.

Long Shot - 6 Kristo

Race 10 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Wine Country Wanda - Like her chances as she has a rail post with short run to the first turn; figures to be forwardly placed.

12 Up the Alley - Great to see Cody Autrey back in SoCal; hope he wins with some of these so he’ll stick around a lot longer.

Long Shot - 11 Itsabeautifulday

Best Bet - 1 Let Faith Arise (race 8)

Santa Anita Park Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 21/3/$23.60; Long Shots, 10/3/$17.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals - 227/58/$357.00; Long Shots, 110/12/$119.80; Best Bets, 12/3/$9.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #5 Sheldon (10/1) in race 5 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Extrasexyhippzster ran out at Pimlico. Stats - 78/44/$408.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick