Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, Jan. 4

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