HORSE RACING

OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA

By Richard Eng

Post Time 10:10 a.m.

Race 1 - 1 1/2 miles, $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon, 3-year-olds and up

Muhannak - Synthetic surface lover is a marathon specialist; dangerous and one of the largest prices in the field.

Sixties Icon - Logical chalk is a winner of multiple group stakes in England; long-winded, runs first time on Lasix.

Long Shot - Zappa

Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, 3-year-olds and up

True to Tradition - Trainer Scott Lake has this guy running a hole in the wind; tactical speed and a juicy 15/1 odds.

Get Funky - Outside posts are good down the hillside turf course; will sit a trip and come flying fast late.

Long Shot - Salute the Comet

Race 3 - 1 mile, $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, 3-year-olds and up

Lewis Michael - Synthetic surface lover draws the rail to save all the ground; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

Slew's Tizzy - Easy prep win off a 7-month hiatus; fresh, talented colt is sure to be overlooked in the betting.

Long Shot - Albertus Maximus

Race 4 - 1 mile (turf), $1-million Breeders' Cup Mile, 3-year-olds and up

Goldikova - She beat males in a group 1 stakes at Longchamp; considered one of the best horses Europe has to offer.

Shakis - His best distance is 9-furlongs, so he is turning back today; suspect he'll be closing fastest of all.

Long Shot - Whatsthescript

Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile, 2-year-olds

Midshipman - Tough trip cost him the win in the Norfolk; big rider switch to Garrett Gomez for the money shot.

Bushranger - I compare him favorably to hot horse Square Eddie; main question is first race over the Pro-Ride.

Long Shot - Pionerof the Nile

Race 6 - 1 mile (turf), $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, 2-year-olds

Coronet of a Baron - Would have been one of the choices on dirt, but Eoin Harty opted for turf; bred to adore sod.

Donativum - As the races get longer, he gets better; like that Frankie Dettori will ride, he'll sit and finish.

Long Shot - Grand Adventure

Race 7 - 6 furlongs, $1-million Breeders' Cup Sprint, 3-year-olds and up

Street Boss - Home field edge and a race shape to suit his closing style; Bruce Headley has won this before.

Fabulous Strike - If there is a speed of the speed, I think this guy is it; simple tactics for Ramon Dominguez.

Long Shot - Cost of Freedom

Race 8 - 1 1/2 miles (turf), $3-million Breeders' Cup Turf, 3-year-olds and up

Soldier of Fortune - The Euros look like they have a hammerlock on this; solid third in the l'Arc de Triomphe.

Red Rocks - Third try in the Turf, he appears in better form than prior years; as honest as the day is long.

Long Shot - Eagle Mountain

Race 9 - 1 1/4 miles, $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic; 3-year-olds and up

Curlin - I thought Zenyatta and Curlin were the two free bingo squares; the champ will strut his stuff over Pro-Ride.

Go Between - Will be overlooked despite an enviable record; Garrett Gomez will give him a perfect rail skimming ride.

Long Shot - Duke of Marmalade

Race 10 - 7 furlongs, $100,000 Damascus, 3-year-olds

Gayego - This should be called the "layoff Derby"; his four synthetic races were great, he eventually wore down.

Georgie Boy - Nice horse but a lousy price off a 7-month hiatus; this is strictly a prep for bigger fish later on.

Long Shot - Hatta Fort

Race 11 - 1 1/8th miles (turf), $150,000 Oak Tree Derby, 3-year-olds

Madeo - He's talented enough to run a BC turf race, but opted for this; could cap a sensational week for Mike Smith.

Nownownow - Been slow in coming around, he won a BC turf stakes a year ago; might be ready to put it all together.

Long Shot - Deal Making

Best Bet - Curlin (race 9)

Santa Anita Friday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/5/$35.60; Long Shots, 9/1/$31.80; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.00

Santa Anita Totals - 408/96/$680.40; Long Shots, 198/26/$343.80; Best Bets, 23/8/$33.20