Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Feb. 27
February 26, 2014 - 11:10 pm
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
6 Silk in Silver - Has a good dirt resume, but has never gone 2-turns; key will be if Rafael Bejarano can get her to relax.
2 Belonging - Tries real dirt for the first time; she’s worked over it, but never ran a real race over it.
Long Shot - 1 Perfect Tango
Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds
2 Pray Hard - No shame running behind California Chrome in the King Glorius; this is much easier, to say the least.
3 Well Measured - Won debut as advertised as a 1/2 odds favorite; facing winners for the first time is a big class rise.
Long Shot - 1 Oh Daddy Oh
Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds
2 Arctic Code - Huge rider switch to Corey Nakatani for the money shot; this colt has shown some turf ability.
3 Zackos My Man - Speedy sort can be helped by the turf rail out 24 feet; Kayla Stra has cooled off, or lost her better mounts.
Long Shot - 1 This Cat’s Awesome
Race 4 - 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Claiming $10,000, 4-year-olds and up
6 Anabaa Premium - Claimed by Javier Sierra off a sharp second; taking 5-pounds off with Irving Orozco may help the cause.
7 Change of Plan - Chalk gets hot riding bugboy Drayden Van Dyke; he looks good on a horse and still pulls 7-pounds.
Long Shot - 2 Londinium
Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
8 Love Tale - Won for $25K two races ago so she really fits with these; Corey Nakatani will take back and make one brush.
5 Readyforhercloseup - Rafael Bejarano takes over for Corey Nakatani who rides the chalk; won last time and can repeat.
Long Shot - 4 Four Better
Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Dreamy Blues - When you show the moxie of Drayden Van Dyke, you get more live mounts; pulling 7-pounds is like stealing.
5 Thisonesforricky - Lots of close finishes but no cigars; key vote is Rafael Bejarano remaining loyal to the cause.
Long Shot - 6 Sheza Dish
Race 7 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 24 feet), Purse $50,000, Claiming $75,000, 4-year-olds and up
3 Stoney Fleece - There could be some pace in here, so his closing style could work again; John Sadler barn is white hot.
4 El Commodore - Speedball must eyeball Batti Man; Mike Smith needs to leave but Tyler Baze on Batti Man is a top gate rider.
Long Shot - 7 Magic Channel
Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
5 Divine Way - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; has run fairly well for a price tag before.
8 New Nature - Took a ton of money in last at 5/2 odds; decent third but needs to improve a step or two to defeat these.
Long Shot - 6 Tiz But a Dream
Best Bet - 2 Pray Hard (race 2)
Santa Anita Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/4/$23.20; Long Shots, 9/1/$5.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.80
Santa Anita Park Totals - 643/188/$1,161.40; Long Shots, 319/39/$424.20; Best Bets, 39/20/$86.40
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #7 Yes It’s Pink (8/1) in race 1 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Jazil’s Dream ran out at Gulfstream Park. Stats - 36/20/$206.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick