HORSE RACING
February 23, 2008 - 10:00 pm
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
Forest Prince - Gomez exits others to ride this guy for Todd Pletcher; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.
Processor's Turf - Ran horribly in last, which will increase his odds; his race two back is fast enough to upset.
Long Shot - Kilderry
Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $26,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Sports Edition - Solis is riding lately like he's found the fountain of youth; will be rolling down the lane.
Watch Me Win - Speedy sort stretches back out around 2-turns; gets a big rider switch to red-hot Bejarano.
Long Shot - Red Neck Gal
Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $57,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds
Indian Sun - Hendricks foresakes a graded stakes for this first level allowance; grass may be his preferred surface.
Shore Do - Frankel colt gets big time class relief from two grade 1 stakes for this; confidence booster under Gomez.
Long Shot - Grasberg
Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds and up
New Rule - His arch nemesis Trail Mix isn't in this heat; there's a ton of early speed to flatter his closing punch.
Currency Trader - Speedball will be forced to take all the heat early and keep going; has plenty of back class.
Long Shot - Swing Your Partner
Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $57,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
Liver - Ran evenly off the claim by Hollendorfer; note that he adds two things, blinkers on and Gomez, ready to go.
Gregorian Bay - Beaten favorite may have been a little too close to a quick pace; better if Micheal Baze can rate him.
Long Shot - Cherokee Heaven
Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds
Toppler - His race two back is fast enough to upset these; one of many taking the big class drop from MSW to maiden claiming.
Sailboat Sam - Showed high cheese for Art Sherman in debut; takes the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.
Long Shot - T Kay B
Race 7 - 1 1/2 miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), $150,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap, 4-year-olds and up
Spring House - His race two back in the Burke is the race he wants to run today; note who rode him that day, Gomez.
Obrigado - Won this stakes last year with a gutsy effort; has had to overcome some very slow paced recent races.
Long Shot - Profido
Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds
Warrens A P Strike - Leap of faith that Gomez knows what he's doing landing here; Smart Strike has been a red hot sire.
General Buffet - FTS from the Mike Pupye barn; has been working well and gets fantastic gate rider Flores for debut.
Long Shot - Tale the Truth
Race 9 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up
Catch That Thief - Ran well in last considering parking lot post 13; moves inside and is capable of an improved effort.
Gunslick - Despite the price rise from $16k to $25k, this is a class drop into a NW2L condition; likes synthetic surfaces.
Long Shot - Stormy Woods
Race 10 - 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds
Magic Mike - Been away 10-months, but faced much tougher in a MSW; Mitchell may be the hottest barn at this meet.
Raingear - Ran a winning race for this class level last time out; similar try puts him in the hunt once again.
Long Shot - Total Sum
Best Bet - Indian Sun (race 3)
Santa Anita Friday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/6/$37.00; Long Shots, 8/1/$20.20; Best Bet, 0/0/$0
Santa Anita Totals - 582/132/$973.60; Long Shots, 290/40/$504.00; Best Bets, 31/11/$47.40