Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Jan. 4
January 3, 2014 - 10:21 pm
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up
2 Afflication - Did everything but win last time as a beaten favorite; speed to lead or follow close up.
7 Graeme Crackerjack - When Rafael Bejarano rides in a cheap race, ask why; the race two back, if repeated, would beat these.
Long Shot - 6 Twin Six
Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, $200,000 Santa Ynez, Fillies, 3-year-olds
1 Taste Like Candy - Sure seems like Jerry Hollendorfer and Bob Baffert have all the nice 3-YOs; no shame losing to Streaming.
4 Crushed Velvet - Flattered when Artemis won easily on Friday; impressive looking debut winner for Bob Baffert.
Long Shot - 3 Awesome Baby
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, $75,000, Midnight Lute, 4-year-olds and up
2 Midnight Transfer - Gets class relief from the grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy; cuts back in distance to this sprint stakes.
5 Cyclometer - He sprints well and loves the Santa Anita oval; chance to stalk the pace and grind it out late.
Long Shot - 3 Color of Courage
Race 4 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $40,000, Claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds
3 Avare - He has not run for a price tag since Del Mar; speed to lead with the turf rail out 15 feet.
4 Sinfully - Has a consistent 5-of-6 in the money on turf resume; Joe Talamo is off to a slow start, but will rebound.
Long Shot - 8 Yankee Rebel
Race 5 - 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
5 Bayern - Bob Baffert baby gets the comeback kid, Gary Stevens; been working bullets, but don’t all of Baffert’s good ones.
3 Snuggley Bear - Has run second 3 times in a row; reunited with Rafael Bejarano who rode him two races ago.
Long Shot - 4 Hold Everything
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds
6 Sheza Smoke Show - Peter Eurton has a double barrel uncoupled entry; this one is the longer price of the duo.
7 Keezheekoni - Ran greenly in debut, slow early, fast late; figures to show improvement in second career start.
Long Shot - 4 Divine Way
Race 7 - 1 mile, Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
4 Cat Burglar - Has been managed carefully by Bob Baffert; a 4-YO with only 3 career starts must be like fine china.
3 Curly Top - Bob Baffert uncoupled entry, this is the longer price horse; would not be shocked if he runs by the other one.
Long Shot - 1 Appealing Tale
Race 8 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), $200,000 San Gabriel, 4-year-olds and up
9 Jeranimo - He won the San Gabriel last year; interesting that a grade 2 stakes is major class relief for this one.
4 Dubai You X Y Z - Has only run in one stakes, the Shoemaker Mile where he trailed Jeranimo; has improved some since.
Long Shot - 1 Slim Shadey
Race 9 - 7 furlongs, Purse $31,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds
8 Seeking Asylum - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; his debut start was better than last.
9 Regal Randy - Did a pop and stop in last, first time with blinkers on; maybe won’t be so speed crazy this time.
Long Shot - 5 Awesome T
Best Bet - 1 Taste Like Candy (race 2)
Santa Anita Park Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/5/$27.60; Long Shots, 8/2/$23.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.40
Santa Anita Park Totals - 112/40/$249.80; Long Shots, 58/6/$76.80; Best Bets, 7/4/$14.00
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #6 Alpaca Fina (5/2) in race 6 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Lion Warrior won at Fair Grounds paying $7.40 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats - 6/4/$28.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick