HORSE RACING
February 15, 2010 - 10:00 pm
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
Mensa Heat - Like the turn back in distance and blinkers off; suspect Amir Cedeno can put him on the lead and try to steal.
Exile - Dead late closer should see sufficient pace to close into; most are stuck in a no passing zone mentality.
Long Shot - Ghost Ruler
Race 2 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds
Run Over You - Beaten favorite was claimed by Caesar Dominguez; key vote is Rafael Bejarano opted for him over others.
A Royal Tizzy - Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; loses Bejarano, but is in top form of a game victory.
Long Shot - Devil Cat M D
Race 3 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
Indian Jones - FTS working bullets for Kathy Walsh, and she's not that kind of trainer; hires main man Joel Rosario.
Locksley Hall - Only one with experience has been well backed in both U.S. starts; he's got some talent to him.
Long Shot - Coastal Smarty
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $10,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up
Wicked Mischief - Cost me when he missed by an inch in last; reunited with Joel Rosario, Mike Mitchell charge will be tough.
Midwesterner - Speedball will appreciate today's shorter distance; simple tactics of catch me if you can.
Long Shot - Swiss Ski
Race 5 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $48,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up
Stella Mark - Figures to be far back early on the turn back in distance; Joel Rosario sits in arrears for one run.
Vaundell - Just missed last time in return off a 9-month hiatus; if he doesn't bounce, he figures right there again.
Long Shot - Hot Damon
Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up
Gold Aly - Dead late closer should see a positive pace scenario; second start under Jeff Mullins could show big improvement.
Off the Wall - Logical chalk if he runs back to his debut second; suspect can rate better than he did in last.
Long Shot - Prarie Falcon
Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $32,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
Noblety - Tiny edge in the hardest race of the day; like the parking lot post rallying down the hillside turf course.
Cadillac - Big class drop figures to put him right into the mix; among many who will be trying to close down the hill.
Long Shot - Hey Elvis
Race 8 - 7 furlongs, $150,000 San Vicente, 3-year-olds
Sidney's Candy - Ran too poor to be true in last off a 4-month hiatus; find out today if there's substance to the hype.
Quiet Invader - Turns back in distance from 2-turn route for elongated sprint; there's early speed so he could sit a trip.
Long Shot - Raging Wit
Race 9 - 1 mile (turf), $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Tuscan Evening - Clear chalk loves SA and the mile turf distance; if it wasn't for Ventura, she'd have won 3 straight stakes.
Cat by the Tale - Visualize a ground saving trip from the rail; she has done a lot of good things for trainer Neil Drysdale.
Long Shot - Pretty Unusual
Race 10 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
D. C. Tapit - Big class dropper from the white-hot Mike Mitchell; if he doesn't win this, it'll be on to Phoenix next.
Warren's Tommy Too - Typical green baby, broke slowly, found his best stride too late; chance to move forward some.
Long Shot - Nathaniel
Best Bet - Tuscan Evening (race 9)
Santa Anita Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/2/$16.40; Long Shots, 8/2/$23.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 554/137/$861.40; Long Shots, 278/43/$456.80; Best Bets, 34/13/$60.60
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #5 Gator Prowl (5/2) in race 6 at Laurel. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Bright Abyss ran second at Philadelphia Park paying $3.60 to place, and $2.20 to show. Stats - 34/23/$166.50