HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 7 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Boowoogeemalia - Logical chalk due to decent resume and sliding down the claiming ladder; need not be much to graduate.
Kathleen M - Like the turn back in distance from a route for this elongated sprint; Jesus Mendoza adding blinkers on here.
Long Shot - Spellbinding
Race 2 - 1 mile, Purse $16,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds and up
The Five J's - Like the rail post at one mile, can save a ton of ground early; Bob Hess adding blinkers on and Martin Garcia.
Mananan McLir - Was done in by a lack of early pace last time; hard to ask a closer to close into a 50.2 second half mile.
Long Shot - Refusal
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
Devoted Magic - Wide rallies have been very effective over the renovated Cushion track; blinkers on for a bit more focus.
Free Up Grade - FTS from the always tough Doug O'Neill barn; has enough speed in his pedigree to fire first time out.
Long Shot - Otisisgold
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $38,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
Blue Torpedo - It's the kind of race where a bomb could definitely win; outside posts down the hillside turf course can help.
Seven Secrets - Tepid chalk in one of the toughest races on the card; 7/2 odds is actually a square price if you can get it.
Long Shot - Hit and Hope
Race 5 - 6 furlongs, $75,000, San Miguel, 3-year-olds
Sea of Pleasure - Speedball appears just too quick early for anyone to keep up; lone speed is the best bet in racing.
Salute the Sarge - The wheels came off at Monmouth, but he'd had a grueling season up to then; fresh, fit and dangerous.
Long Shot - Possibi
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
Sanquine - His debut speed figure just crushes these if repeated; the parking lot post is a positive, not a negative.
Magna Cum Laude - Irish import makes his U.S. debut today; private purchase for the Bob Hess barn, could be any kind.
Long Shot - Ginobili
Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up
Corvinus - Failed as the favorite in this condition last time; suspect his third start off a 3-month hiatus will be good.
Cactus Lightning - Sharp run off the claim by Mike Marlow last time out; similar effort puts him right there again.
Long Shot - Reach For Gold
Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $57,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up
Battle Won - Don't like the inside post, but love his back class and tenacity; may have bounced badly last time out.
Kruger Park - Dangerous foe if he can draw in off the also eligible list; the Mig is picking up some Garrett Gomez mounts.
Long Shot - Gweebarra
Race 9 - 1 1/2 miles, $100,000 Tokyo City Handicap, 4-year-olds and up
Big Booster - One of the well beaten survivors from the Big Cap; he's been a solid resurrection project for Mike Mitchell.
Zappa - John Sadler has done an equally good job with this former claimer; another who got dusted badly in the Big Cap.
Long Shot - Church Service
Race 10 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 8 feet), Purse $57,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
Mind the Minister - Tough beat last time when disqualified from first; Tyler Baze has ridden him before, so no excuse.
Only Him - Started slow, finished fast in his U.S. debut; French invader gets a new pilot, Corey Nakatani for Bejarano.
Long Shot - Be Realistic
Race 11 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $21,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds
Mixed Berries - Leap of faith again in Mike Mitchell; good improvement in last, was flattered by Dusty Trail's next out win.
Silver Dust - Tepid chalk has a tough post going around 2-turns; Jorge Periban adding blinkers on for more response.
Long Shot - Prince Meyer
Best Bet - Boowoogeemalia (race 1)
Santa Anita Friday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/7/$66.00; Long Shots, 8/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.00
Santa Anita Totals - 1,014/242/$1,809.80; Long Shots, 502/64/$802.40; Best Bets, 57/19/$83.00
