HORSE RACING

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $46,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

Warrens A P Strike - Garrett Gomez has a lot of live mounts, could win a bundle; first turf, but is sired by Smart Strike.

King of the Green - Was flattered when Honoramongfriends won next out; big rider switch to Victor Espinoza for the money shot.

Long Shot - River Lord

Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $50,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Silent Kitten - Dead late closer could be flattered by the race shape; have to respect when Gomez legs up for John Sadler.

Peppermint Lounge - Speedball makes the surface switch from turf to synthetic; will need to deal early with Rosangela.

Long Shot - Zilla

Race 3 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $14,000, Claiming $10,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Bold Cleo - What a sorry race to start a $349K pick 6 carryover; she wired a cheaper group at Fairplex, not much better here.

Blushing Bear Cat - Like that Martin Pedroza, the king of Fairplex, had choices; decided to ride this filly for Jack Carava;

Long Shot - Special Smoke

Race 4 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $27,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

Ballestro - Third start off a 9-month hiatus could be his best; big rider switch to Garrett Gomez for the money shot.

Surf Academy - He is winless in 12 turf starts, but he has a shot because this is one slow field; passing tired horses late.

Long Shot - Maj. Trouble

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

Scottish Diamond - A key race in the pick 6 because it is so wide open; Wesley Ward claimed this speedball, see what happens.

Sorcerers Spell - Tepid chalk in an impossible looking race; sliding down the claiming ladder to this new career low level.

Long Shot - Silver Vista

Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Soldier Betty - Bruce Headley babies typically improve a lot second time out; this filly started slow, but finished fast.

Hot n' Dusty - Logical chalk appears to be her own worst enemy; in both starts she refused to load and put up a big fuss.

Long Shot - Burna Dette

Race 7 - 1 mile, Purse $61,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

Porto Santo - He has talent but seemingly finds a reason to lose all the time; reunited with Gomez in a pretty soft spot.

Worldly - Got smothered last time which will inflate his odds; his one synthetic track race was a sharp victory.

Long Shot - Barber

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Rocket Candy - In a dart throw race, I took all FTS; this filly gets top billing due to connections of Bejarano and O'Neill.

Angel Wreath - She has been working forever for Lisa Lewis prior to her debut; so many works, she can't possibly be short.

Long Shot - Merge

Best Bet - Warrens A P Strike (race 1)

Santa Anita Thursday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$23.80; Long Shots, 7/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.60

Santa Anita Totals - 34/8/$47.60; Long Shots, 16/0/$0; Best Bets, 2/1/$2.60