HORSE RACING

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