HORSE RACING

OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA

By Richard Eng

Post Time noon

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $14,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Sugar Doll - Monteleone has a hammer lock on this field with an uncoupled entry; dropping in class to try and win again.

Miss Melissa - Well spotted off the claim to reap quick dividends; suspect one Monteleone will leave, the other will sit.

Long Shot - Dee's a Legend

Race 2 - 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Island Hop - Canani charge ran better than looked last time; can be a lot tighter in second start off a 2-month hiatus.

Foreign - Drysdale horses get overbet everytime on reputation alone; this looks more like a cull than one of his good ones.

Long Shot - Silver Moonshine

Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Optional claiming $32,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Mary Ellise - Beaten favorite last time out can be taken to atone for that here; will offer a lot more value with these.

Sangay - Favorites like this get way overbet due to a daylight MSW graduation; this is a big step up in class today.

Long Shot - Rare Exchange

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

Lonely Highway - Ran a winning race for this bottom class last time out; dead late closer is capable of repeating the try.

Street Number - Should find the stretch out to 2-turns a lot more to his liking pace wise; tactical speed to sit a trip.

Long Shot - Behoogie

Race 5 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $43,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

Shem Tov - Beaten favorite didn't run his race last time; suspect Espinoza will take him back further and make one run.

Indian Sun - Logical chalk grew wings late in debut to just miss; still, it's hard to pass 11 horses in a downhill race.

Long Shot - El Legado

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

Jitterbug Ball - O'Neill drops him down in search of victory; this is the lowest class level he's ever competed at.

French Souvenir - Did not run a step down the hillside turf course; is capable of bouncing back as he ran two races ago.

Long Shot - Red State

Race 7 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

Moonlit Habit - Claimed by West who can improve them with the best trainers; well spotted class wise to compete, and win.

Catch That Thief - Dead late closer found his best stride too late in last; has a puncher's chance in a wide open affair.

Long Shot - Mellow Cammie

Race 8 - 1 mile (turf), $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Black Mamba - Tiny edge in a terrific betting race; ran great in the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon, faces none like Nashoba's Key.

Double Trouble - Frankel at a square price is always worth another look; this is her toughest U.S. test to date.

Long Shot - Meribel

Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

Talkin to Mom Roo - Time to forego the turf sprint experiment; this is a fast 4-YO who should relish the Cushion track.

Street Boss - Dumb ride last time by Solis to rush him into the pace; this colt prefers to settle back and make one run.

Long Shot - Hurry Up Austin

Race 10 - 1 mile, Purse $26,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

Ballestero - The former Hines barn has been running very well of late; tiny edge in another very difficult heat.

Wing Walker - Like that Nakatani remains loyal despite a poor effort in last; adding blinkers on, could turn things around.

Long Shot - Wellnessfast

Best Bet - Mary Ellise (race 3)

Santa Anita Saturday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 22/3/$22.40; Long Shots, 11/2/$28.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.40

Santa Anita Totals - 510/113/$805.00; Long Shots, 253/35/$463.20; Best Bets, 30/10/$48.00