Horse Racing: Today at Santa Anita, March 8
March 7, 2014 - 10:07 pm
Post Time Noon
Race 1 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds
1 Faith Hope Love - Suspect will save all the ground inside under Rafael Bejarano; he’s riding a ton of live horses today.
3 Beverly the Boss - Ran OK in grass debut last out; she may be faster on dirt, but we’ll find out more tonight.
Long Shot - 2 Dancinginthestreet
Race 2 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
1 Snuggley Bear - Rafael Bejarano again draws the rail with the morning line chalk; chance to sit a trip and grind it out late.
7 Cowtownmary - Has the right jockey, Edwin Maldonado, for a big speed effort; has succumbed in the final furlong in both races.
Long Shot - 2 Pantera Rojo
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds and up
6 Tribal Smoke - Takes the blinkers off; Jeff Mullins having a good meet, using Tyler Baze for the injured Martin Pedroza.
5 Pass the Pico - Claimed by Julio Canani who is having an ice cold meet; Joel Rosario is riding in every race this afternoon.
Long Shot - 10 Quick Cielo
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds
2 Rough Passage - Has been knocking on the door in all 4 career starts; his speed figures are improving, a positive sign.
5 Ferocious - Did everything but win in a fine debut; will be a major player with just one step of improvement.
Long Shot - 10 Gameboy Luke
Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, $300,000 San Felipe, 3-year-olds
9 Midnight Hawk - Got tired in the Lewis after using up nervous energy early on; I think he can get the distance, if he relaxes.
4 California Chrome - After 2 visually impressive wins in a row, is the chalk today; key is facing much tougher open company.
Long Shot - 7 Kristo
Race 6 - 1 mile (turf), $75,000 China Doll, Fillies, 3-year-olds
11 On the Backstreets - Was the easiest winner in last that I’ve seen in a long time; a true transformation since going on grass.
1 Anniversary Kitty - Has run two very good races on turf so far; Corey Nakatani remains one of the best turf rides in racing.
Long Shot - 8 Diversy Harbor
Race 7 - 7 furlongs, $250,000 San Carlos, 4-year-olds
1 Sahara Sky - Looked like a horse who needed a race in the Palos Verde; second start off a 9-month hiatus.
10 Shakin It Up - Bob Baffert could of run him in the Big Cap; has visions of winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with him.
Long Shot - 6 Wild Dude
Race 8 - 1 mile (turf), $350,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, 4-year-olds and up
5 Za Approval - Gave Wise Dan all he wanted in the BC Mile; hasn’t started since, but figures to be fresh and fit.
2 Regally Ready - Suspect he could be the speed of the speed today; has shown a fondness for Arcadia grass.
Long Shot - 3 Optimizer
Race 9 - 1 1/4 miles, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap, 4-year-olds and up
2 Mucho Macho Man - Has proven his class and ability over Santa Anita dirt; he’s running better now than ever before.
1 Will Take Charge - Ran a huge second in the Donn against a major speed bias; he’s been a new horse since Saratoga.
Long Shot - 3 Blingo
Race 10 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $58,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up
4 Got Even - Another live one for Rafael Bejarano; he has a way of nursing a horse to have something left for the end.
3 Oliver’s Tale - Could get overlooked from a low percentage barn; Brice Blanc prefers to sit and make one brush.
Long Shot - 2 Chief Lion
Race 11 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $58,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 4-year-olds and up
5 Jules Journey - Big late rally in the Cal Cup Classic; Joe Talamo gets his first chance on this Jim Cassidy charge.
3 This One’s for Mel - Third start off the claim by Peter Eurton; Luis Saez may take off this mount to fly back to Miami.
Long Shot - 6 African Oil
Best Bet - 1 Faith Hope Love (race 1)
Santa Anita Park Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$21.60; Long Shots, 8/1/$11.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.60
Santa Anita Park Totals - 733/215/$1,318.40; Long Shots, 363/50/$529.00; Best Bets, 45/23/$98.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #4 Won Great Classic (4/1) in race 7 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Lawyer Gabe won at Oaklawn Park paying $6.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Stats - 42/22/$228.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick