HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 4-year-olds and up

Thor's Bullet - Maiden win is more impressive due to being a key race; a repeat race would throttle these.

Mossad - Third start off a 11-month hiatus; his turf race last time was good, his maiden win two back was better.

Long Shot - Tokay

Race 2 - 1 1/4 miles (turf), Purse $52,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

New Fandan - Ran evenly in his SoCal debut; Brian Koriner charge appears capable of better, expect improvement.

Master Daniel - Tepid chalk in a wide open grass marathon; was nailed in last by a Bobby Frankel turfer.

Long Shot - Power Blitz

Race 3 - 7 furlongs, Purse $47,000, Optional claiming $80,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

Danny Q - Like the turn back in distance from a 2-turn route to an elongated sprint; best stride will come late.

Korban - Game MSW win last time, now Rafael Bejarano takes over; suspect will sit midpack and grind late.

Long Shot - Aquicksting

Race 4 - 1 mile, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Dailies - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; ground saving ride under Mike Smith.

Singita - Claimed by John Sadler who immediately hires Garrett Gomez for the money shot; gets a nice sitting trip.

Long Shot - Red Hot Charlotte

Race 5 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds

Guts - Just missed in last, now is plunged to the bottom by Jack Carava; might be a red flag crammed down our throats.

Distinctive Afleet - Trainer Ron Ellis does not place horses over their head; repeat of last is good enough.

Long Shot - Change Your Mask

Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $53,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Shermeen - Most of the field is returning off layoffs; Kathy Walsh mare is dead fit and fast enough to upset.

We Will Rock You - Faltered as a tepid favorite in last; like that Garrett Gomez stays loyal to Christophe Clement.

Long Shot - Gorgeous Goose

Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Irish Pepper - Was well regarded in debut and went off as the second choice; she should improve in her second start.

Gifted Gina - Claimed by Jorge Periban who added blinkers on and saw big improvement; can be a useful sort.

Long Shot - Excessive Blend

Race 8 - 1 mile (turf), $70,000 China Doll, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Saucey Evening - Overwhelming favorite gets class relief from the grade 1 Las Virgenes; a confidence builder.

April Pride - Stride late last time closing into a dawdling pace; it'll be faster today versus tougher foes.

Long Shot - Acting Lady

Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Crooked Smile - Ran a winning race for this class off the claim by Bob Hess; second start off an 8-month hiatus.

More Than Music - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Garrett Gomez takes over.

Long Shot - Queen Mariles

Best Bet - Saucey Evening (race 8)

Santa Anita Saturday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/2/$23.20; Long Shots, 10/4/$68.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.80

Santa Anita Totals - 865/211/$1,455.00; Long Shots, 426/65/$773.40; Best Bets, 50/19/$70.60

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #2 May Day Now (8/5) in race 2 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Mr. Fantasy ran third at Aqueduct paying $3.00 to show. Stats - 23/19/$136.00