HORSE RACING
December 30, 2009 - 10:00 pm
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
Big Bad Boo - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; has every right to improve.
Swiss Currency - Flashed speed from post 10 in last before tiring; another dropping from MSW to maiden claiming.
Long Shot - Swiss Emperor
Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $46,000, Allowance, 2-year-olds
Sidney's Candy - Highly regarded colt takes his first step on the Triple Crown trail; he's supposed to beat these.
Indian Firewater - Beaten only 2-lengths in his stakes debut; has a nice upside if he keeps improving.
Long Shot - Cardiff Giant
Race 3 - 1 mile, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
Brace Yourselves - Ran a winning race for this class in last; if he improves one step, he'll win it.
Ivory Fudge - Finished right with the favorite last time; John Sadler babies improve with experience.
Long Shot - Take Control
Race 4 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
Prevailing Wind - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; seems better suited for 2-turns.
Smokey Beau - Logical chalk stretching out around 2-turns; tactical speed to be forwardly placed throughout.
Long Shot - Elmer N Mort
Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up
Camisado - Has been very productive since claimed by Ed Moger; prefers to settle early and make one run.
Rummysecret War - You need to see his replay to know how easy he won at 107/1 odds; repeat race will win this.
Long Shot - Tiz Afire
Race 6 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
Prince Novetti - Showed good late energy in first race off a 6-month hiatus; will be much tighter for this.
Country Tough - Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; saves all the ground and grinds it out late under Joel Rosario.
Long Shot - Mikrokosmo
Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $52,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
Times Gone By - Gets class relief from the grade 1 Hirsch for this; $1.9-million colt is supposed to beat these.
Deal Breaker - Was claimed from Mike Mitchell, then given back to him; he's better than shown in last race.
Long Shot - Viscount
Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up
Malibu Canyon - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class level; the field is full of class droppers.
Brian the Brave - Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; another sliding down to the lowest class of his career.
Long Shot - Spinning Sound
Best Bet - Sidney's Candy (race 2)
Santa Anita Monday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$46.40; Long Shots, 8/1/$15.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 49/15/$102.00; Long Shots, 25/2/$25.20; Best Bets, 3/2/$5.40
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #4 Tiger's Song (7/2) in race 4 at Hawthorne. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Monday, Simply Spiteful ran second at Philadelphia Park paying $2.10 to place, no show wagering. Stats - 3/3/$15.60