HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA
By Richard Eng
Post Time noon
Race 1 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds
Lucky Mama - Of the ones with experience, her debut race was strongest; if she improves a step, she'll be awful tough.
Vulnerable - Was no factor in career debut at Del Mar 5-months back; note she exited a key race, offers plenty of value.
Long Shot - Sweet August Moon
Race 2 - 7 furlongs, $125,000 California Breeders' Champion, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
Liberian Freighter - Liked the fact he showed good tactical speed before drawing off; Drysdale seldom cranks up his babies.
Dee Dee's Legacy - It's a tendency, even by me, to give too much weight to a MSW win; this guy exploded from last to first.
Long Shot - Bob Black Jack
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
That's Grand - FTS from the Pletcher barn attracts champion rider Gomez; suspect the tote board will sing his praises.
Hoods Up - Logical chalk due to two good career starts, so far; his last start, if repeated, still may leave him vulnerable.
Long Shot - El Martillo
Race 4 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $70,000, Optional claiming $125,000, 3-year-olds and up
Epic Power - Four straight seconds may be a turn-off for many; yet, he runs fast enough to upset and gets Nakatani back.
Toasted - Logical chalk figures to be way overbet with the combo of Gomez and Mitchell; solid turfer makes a nice living.
Long Shot - Heroi Do Bafra
Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $34,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up
Forest Phantom - Won first off the claim by Pupye in a gritty try; second start in 4-months, has back class to repeat.
Enter Anon - Won first time off the claim for Morey in a terrific effort; he's capable of repeating, or doing even more.
Long Shot - Weekend Tiger
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $52,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up
Forestry's Fire - Remember down the hillside turf course outside posts are better; square price on this dead late closer.
Buck - Speedball figures to get a jump on the rest; might lose some value due to Gomez riding for underrated Peter Miller.
Long Shot - Their He Goes
Race 7 - 7 furlongs, $250,000 Malibu, 3-year-olds
Silver Stetson Man - My choice to upset in a wide open opening day stakes; was flattered when exiting a solid key race.
Les Grands Trois - Dead late closer should see a ton of early pace to close into; interesting rider switch to Bejarano.
Long Shot - E Z Warrior
Race 8 - 1 mile (turf), $100,000 Sir Beaufort, 3-year-olds
Warning Zone - These stakes races are incredibly tough to decipher; I'll go with value exiting the grade 1 Hollywood Derby.
Twilight Meteor - Gets class relief exiting the Hollywood Derby for this; like that Gomez chose to stick with Pletcher.
Long Shot - Monterey Jazz
Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
Home of the Bold - If you can get Gomez on an 8/1 shot like this, you have to use him; tactical speed to sit a good trip.
Hennessy's Hope - Ran horribly last time after a solid career debut; Dollase adding blinkers on, expect a whole lot better.
Long Shot - Salty Scholar
Best Bet - Lucky Mama (race 1)
Hollywood Saturday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 22/4/$30.00; Long Shots, 11/2/$31.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Hollywood Final Totals - 543/132/$930.60; Long Shots, 271/40/$523.80; Best Bets, 32/10/$41.40
