HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 - 7 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Nicole H - Ran well enough in debut to win this MSW condition; clearly the one to beat at very short odds.

Pink Blossom - FTS from Bruce Headley has turned in some rapid works; watch the tote board for clues on FTS.

Long Shot - Ms Margaritaville

Race 2 - 1 mile, Purse $24,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds

Gilligan - As difficult a 6-horse field as you'll find; big rider switch to Joe Talamo should be rallying late.

Six Eighteen - Tepid chalk in an impossible looking race; tactical speed to get involved from the get go.

Long Shot - Straightomidnight

Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, 4-year-olds and up

Worth Repeating - Dead late closer makes his third start off a 13-month hiatus; reunited with Rafael Bejarano.

Horowitz - Speedball will like the turf rail out 15 feet; that makes a big difference, especially down the hill.

Long Shot -Discontent

Race 4 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

Exile - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; facing an extremely slow field.

Ol'dogtown - Has had a zillion chances, but runs fast enough to get into the number on occasion.

Long Shot - Sense of Occasion

Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $48,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Devine Actress - Third career start for a 5-YO; like that Rafael Bejarano exits others to ride for David Hofmans.

Living Our Dream - Lost Bejarano to the chalk, but a nice sub in Tyler Baze; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

Long Shot - Wild Poppy

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $52,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 4-year-olds and up

Fantasy Free - Claimed by A. C. Avila, who continues to train red-hot; like that he hires Rafael Bejarano too.

Laser Point - Jeff Mullins is another barn putting up good numbers early in the meet; last in open company was good.

Long Shot - Sir Bell

Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $32,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds

Devil Cat M D - Dead late closer was claimed by Doug O'Neill; Joel Rosario will sit in arrears and make one run.

Flashmans Papers - Tepid chalk has done some of his best running over Arcadia sod; tactical speed to sit a trip.

Long Shot - Point Attended

Race 8 - 1 1/16th miles, $100,000 Santa Ysabel, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Zilva - Was in the hunt late in the BC Juvenile Fillies; big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano and facing lesser.

Crisp - Incredible MSW win where she bolted on the turn, straightened out, then came flying near the outer rail to win.

Long Shot - Evening Jewel

Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Blind Optimism - Was well bet in debut, but broke slow and did a pop and stop; expect much better in second start.

Bonita Montana - Outran her 52/1 odds in debut; keep an eye on the 10 FTS, you have an edge of seeing the tote board.

Long Shot - Z and I

Best Bet - Exile (race 4)

Santa Anita Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/7/$52.40; Long Shots, 9/2/$19.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.60

Santa Anita Totals - 196/49/$337.80; Long Shots, 100/15/$158.40; Best Bets, 12/6/$25.00

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #3 Soda Jerk (8/5) in race 2 at Tampa Bay. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Screen to Screen ran out at Penn National. Stats - 12/9/$55.80