HORSE RACING
November 8, 2009 - 10:00 pm
TODAY AT OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA
By Richard Eng
Post Time noon
Race 1 - 1 mile, Purse $11,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up
Fenice - Ran very well in Pro Ride debut in last; big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot.
Fight On - Reclaimed by Jack Carava, one of the best trainer moves in racing; expect normal improvement.
Long Shot - Absolute Glory
Race 2 - 1 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $40,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
Power Blitz - Draw a line thru the Gallant Man debacle on Pro ride and he looks OK; big class drop will help.
Dynamic Range - Twice beaten favorite cannot be picked any higher; may not have the killer instinct to pass.
Long Shot - Autocue
Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $36,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds
Evening Jewel - Lost to the ultra talented Evening News in last; most likely winner, just eye the FTS horses.
Stunning Aly - Julio Canani babies typically improve with racing; adds blinkers on, chased Evening Jewel in last.
Long Shot - Usually Super
Race 4 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $12,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Sky Marni - Chance to sit a perfect trip with good pace guaranteed; slides down another notch in class.
Dine At Nine - Speedball was burning rubber in last; not sure if Swiss Blend really wants any part of him.
Long Shot - Ditto This
Race 5 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $36,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
Amazombie - Like the turn back in distance; proven affinity to grass, should close fast down the hillside course.
Red Sun - Tries turf for the first time; been away 10-months, like that Rafael Bejarano takes the call.
Long Shot - Hot Damon
Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $14,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up
Ballistic Heat - Switch to Rafael Bejarano despite two wins with the bugboy; might depress his odds even further.
Copa de Plata - Good third first off the claim by Jorge Periban; class drop in search of a quick ROI.
Long Shot - Bilo
Race 7 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $22,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
Megillah - Stretches out after a good third down the hill; not much turf talent in here, have to go searching.
Paddy's Magic - First time turf, better than the sod resume of others; only three starts, the less races the better.
Long Shot - Sovereign Lord
Race 8 - 7 furlongs, $58,000 Cascapedia, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Kays and Jays - Strong run in the grade 3 Azalea at Calder; still must prove herself over synthetics, has talent.
Irish Gypsy - Bob Baffert filly looksed good rallying to win in last; figures to sit tight again under Garrett Gomez.
Long Shot - Saucey Evening
Race 9 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $38,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Easy Ashley - Wesley Ward usually wins races on the front end; has Tyler Baze, a top class speed rider.
Hotrod Kelly - Must draw in off the also eligibles; dead late closer will like the parking lot post.
Long Shot - Warren's R Ready
Race 10 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Flyinginformation - Mike Mitchell barn is heating up in advance of Hollywood; Garrett Gomez riding in the finale?
Bit of a Lady - Woke up in last with the best race of her life; grinder doesn't have much to beat in here.
Long Shot - Flash Dance
Best Bet - Evening Jewel (race 3)
Santa Anita Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/3/$15.40; Long Shots, 10/1/$22.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 492/132/$833.20; Long Shots, 247/38/$424.00; Best Bets, 29/13/$51.20
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #5 Couture Cat (8/5) in race 4 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Thank U Philippe ran second at Aqueduct paying $3.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats - 165/123/$941.90