HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Maeve - Dead late closer should be flattered by the race shape; like the turn back in distance and class drop.

Nine to Dine - Speedball has enough gas to outbreak the favorite Epitome of a Lady; duel can squash them both.

Long Shot - Ultra Awesome

Race 2 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Sam's Special - Big favorite has been running faster speed figures; Martin Pedroza might actually help the price some.

Sofie S - No secret last time a a winning favorite; the key will be if she moves forward or regresses facing winners.

Long Shot - Sheza Foxy Jackpot

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $44,000, Allowance, 2-year-olds

Marcello - First time on turf, but still holds a big class edge; Bob Baffert colt has pedigree to like the green stuff.

Pico Pico - Sharp second in Afflebaugh at Fairplex; he too makes his turf debut, but shows a lot of ability.

Long Shot - Purse Luva

Race 4 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Action Gal - Beaten favorite at least has run some decent Beyer speed figures; need not be much to succeed with these.

She's the Queen B - By far the worst race run at the meet; the less starts the better, like this Hollendorfer FTS.

Long Shot - Hyper Lass

Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $30,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

Uffizi - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low level; saves all the ground and grinds it out late.

Minister Blair - This is his comfort level now; has every right to wake up and run a big race, a ton of back class.

Long Shot - Rhetorically

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

Smooth and Savvy - Dumb ride last time when rushed prematurely; he can be rated and gets the patient Joe Talamo today.

Joshua's Dream - Draw a line thru his Fairplex debacle and his resume looks OK; from the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer.

Long Shot - Fiery Trippi

Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $42,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

Coronet of a Baron - I know he's got more talent than he's shown in two races this year; Rafael Bejarano takes over.

Korban - Troubled trip last time points to a potential upsetter; there figures to be plenty of pace to chase.

Long Shot - Black Wolf

Race 8 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

One to Watch - Ran OK in career debut at Fairplex; that one race experience can make a difference.

Bonnie Brown Eyes - FTS from the live Mike Mitchell barn; most of the starters here have shown they can't run.

Long Shot - Uncirculated

Best Bet - Sam's Special (race 2)

Santa Anita Monday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/6/$33.20; Long Shots, 9/1/$22.40; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals - 185/46/$323.20; Long Shots, 93/14/$180.80; Best Bets, 11/7/$31.40

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #8 Pathway (5/2) in race 9 at Hawthorne. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Monday, Acronym won at Belmont Park paying $3.00 to win, $2.50 to place and $2.10 to show. Stats - 149/112/$847.10