HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds

Guerrero Negro - Ran much improved last time in his first with blinkers on; one step improvement would crush these.

Cherokee Sun - Ran evenly in debut, now Mark Tsgalakis adding blinkers on; could improve a lot, little or not at all.

Long Shot - Bettingonthefly

Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $10,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up

Saxophone - Old guy trains fast, runs fast, keeps cashing paychecks; bullet workout off a 2-month hiatus.

A Royal Tizzy - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; like that Rafael Bejarano remains loyal.

Long Shot - Lardog

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $48,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Lady Alex - She is 2-for-2 wins over grass; Cal-bred filly is still eligible for this open company condition.

Woman Warrior - Been running in an out in her last 4 turf starts; her pattern suggests an "in" effort tonight.

Long Shot - Real Fancy Runner

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

Big Jay - Beaten favorite returns off a 3-month hiatus; tactical speed to sit a nice trip around 2-turns.

Licoricewhip - Tepid chalk in a challenging affair; his last race, if repeated, puts him right there.

Long Shot - Jade Ruler

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $10,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up

Bilo - Speedball figures to run off an hide early; at this bottom class level, he'll be awful tough to catch.

Abalanche - Huge class drop off a 3-month hiatus; Rafael Becerra takes the blinkers off and adds Victor Espinoza.

Long Shot - Swiss Ski

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

Ziggy's Stardust - If you're a David Bowie fan, you know where this name came from; should handle the 2-turn test.

Line of David - Garrett Gomez draws perfect to sit a trip and save all the ground; gets the best out of the colt late.

Long Shot - Brace Yourselves

Race 7 - 7 furlongs, Purse $46,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

Mobilized - Dead late closer in a race full of early speed; Rafael Bejarano had choices but opted to ride here.

Total Bull - Part of a potential prolific speed duel; Garrett Gomez likes to take back, may not have a choice.

Long Shot - Patriotic Soldier

Race 8 - 7 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

Prince Novetti - Bit long in the tooth, but showed enough to attract Rafael Bejarano; like the turn back in distance.

Tale the Truth - Speedball draws the rail, the shortest trip home; simple tactics for smokin Joe Talamo.

Long Shot - Delago

Best Bet - Mobilized (race 7)

Santa Anita Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/4/$20.60; Long Shots, 8/1/$8.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals - 442/116/$750.40; Long Shots, 221/35/$382.00; Best Bets, 27/10/$44.80

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #8 Bernie The Maestro (5/2) in race 8 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Deuces Takem ran out at Tampa Bay. Stats - 26/17/$105.90