HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 7 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Shebang - Sliding down the class ladder, she appears best suited as a late closing sprinter; last won at 7 furlongs.

Nicole's Image - Speedball figures to play catch me if you can with these; will go as fast and as far as she can.

Long Shot - Persian Honey

Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $47,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 2-year-olds

Details R Sketchy - This is the horse I bet on in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup future books over at Wynn Las Vegas.

Wild Wild Posse - Was held to the fire last time in the Del Mar Futurity and was never a factor; facing an easier task here.

Long Shot - Pick to Click

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $46,000, Maiden speciall weights, 3-year-olds and up

Holy Thunder - Just missed last time in a solid effort; if he runs anything close to that today, he'll win.

Red Door Drive - Underachiever faces a very bad group in this turf route; suspect he'll be closing fastest of all.

Long Shot - Tension Mounts

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $14,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

Twin Turbo - Logical chalk in a wide open race; John Sadler barn will be under the microscope due to his steroid positives.

Black Tux - Don't typically like maiden graduates facing winners for the first time; the field is full of slowpokes though.

Long Shot - Richly Endowed

Race 5 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

Soul Giant - Second time out babies for Cliff Sise are winning at 33 percent; key vote of Garrett Gomez convinced me.

Zephaniah - Claimed by the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; he adds blinkers on and Rafael Bejarano, a lot to like.

Long Shot - Island Run

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $52,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Eissoai - Bobby Frankel filly has talent, if she can run straight; lugged in badly in U.S. debut, she adds blinkers on here.

Silver Swallow - She's tried turf just once, but has run in tougher races than most of these; will enjoy the class relief.

Long Shot - Andmoreagain

Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $49,000, Optional claiming $32,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

North Fork - 2-time winner at Del Mar was claimed by Ben Cecil; he protects him today in this O/C and Bejarano stays loyal.

Roadside Rest - Stretching out around 2-turns for the first time in a while; like that Garrett Gomez rides him back.

Long Shot - Harlene

Race 8 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Renees Beauty - Game run at Fairplex should set her up nicely for this; figures to be a generous price from the parking lot.

Just N Excess - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; she's run some races fast enough to win.

Long Shot - Ata Honour

Best Bet - Details R Sketchy (race 2)

Santa Anita Wednesday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/3/$23.80; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Del Mar Final Totals - 681/166/$1,126.40; Long Shots, 351/50/$622.20; Best Bets, 42/13/$61.40