HORSE RACING
March 25, 2009 - 9:00 pm
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $20,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
Just Charmed - Just missed last time going 2-turns for the first time; big class drop and Garrett Gomez both helped.
Funny Me - Leap of faith that Rafael Bejarano knows what he's getting on; was overmatched in a turf allowance in last.
Long Shot - Jan's Ruling Angel
Race 2 - 7 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Gifted Gina - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; her race two back would win this.
Brent's Passion - Missed by an inch in debut at 11/1, sure to be way overbet today; showed speed from the get go.
Long Shot - Youra Rosie Won
Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $51,000, Claiming $80,000, 4-year-olds and up
Porfido - There are multiple speed horses to set up a very quick early pace; the chalk has a chance to sit a perfect trip.
Vespucci - Bobby Frankel has an uncoupled entry in here; I suspect one of the pair will win with a stalking trip.
Long Shot - Icemancometh a
Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $42,000, Claiming $50,000, 4-year-olds and up
Sensational Score - Rough, wide trip from post 12 in last; spotted to win today so Mike Mitchell hires Rafael Bejarano.
Marenostrum - Logical chalk has proven his comfort level is at this high claiming class; tactical speed to sit a trip.
Long Shot - Heroi Do Bafra
Race 5 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $32,000, 4-year-olds and up
Soupy - Second start off a 2-month hiatus; figures to sit a perfect trip with the turf rail out 30 feet.
Plug Me In - Was dueled into submission last time in a 45 second half mile; sliding down the claiming class for this.
Long Shot - Cateclipse
Race 6 - 7 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Kristen's Lil Lady - Was in contention in both career starts but lacked a killer instinct; Tim Yakteen hires Bejarano.
Dailies - Like the turn back in distance after a speed effort in last; Kathy Walsh takes the blinkers off for this.
Long Shot - Kentucky Nectar
Race 7 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $52,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds
Luckiest Man - Stretching out around 2-turns for the first time; will be forwardly placed with the rail out 30-feet.
Herr Mozart - Weak effort in last after a convincing MSW win two back; saves ground under Gomez, will be way overbet.
Long Shot - African Gray
Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
General Buffet - Good try in last and figures to be one of the ones; Joel Rosario has proven he belongs in SoCal.
Goodlookindude - You can count on one hand the number of favorites ridden by Kayla Stra; clearly the one to beat here.
Long Shot - Olympic Force
Best Bet - Sensational Score (race 4)
Santa Anita Sunday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/3/$38.00; Long Shots, 9/1/$7.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 1,048/243/$1,706.80; Long Shots, 516/80/$913.40; Best Bets, 61/24/$88.40
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #6 Victory for M'lady (3/1) in race 1 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Hadrian's Image ran third at Aqueduct paying $2.10 to show. Stats - 34/28/$195.30