Today at Santa Anita: Jan. 5, 2014

TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, 4-year-olds

4 Change of Plan - Ran two slow races over Hollywood synthetics; his races on dirt appear a lot faster.

1 He’s Not too Shabby - Was a vet scratch on Dec. 13; then see the red flag drop by Jeff Mullins, low level confidence.

Long Shot - 2 One Firm Cat

Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

5 Jet Bird - Been away since April, is reunited with Rafael Bejarano; working bullets for this return.

6 Cougarontheprowl - FTS from the Mike Pupye barn; hot riding Mike Smith can do no wrong this meet.

Long Shot - 2 Caribe d’Oro

Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Magestic Stinger - Has won 2 straight, now got claimed by Troy Taylor; he and Mario Gutierrez are from the Pacific Northwest.

4 With a Miracle - These are her friends at this $25K class; tactical speed to sit a decent trip throughout.

Long Shot - 5 Woebegon

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Small Moves - Big class drop points to this favorite; if you draw a line thru last, her prior races are fast enough to win.

4 Two Blue Hens - Claimed 2 races ago by Danny Velasquez; like the bugboy Irving Orozco to carve out a good trip.

Long Shot - 3 Raven Wild

Race 5 - 7 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

3 Gentlemen Pete - Sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to the bottom; key vote comes from Rafael Bejarano taking the call.

5 ice Cream Truck - Has had many chances at this bottom class rung; as a dead late closer, the race must collapse up ahead.

Long Shot - 14 Italian Mirage

Race 6 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $58,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

10 Jonny’s Choice - Gets class relief from the Hollywood Turf Express for this; he stretches out, but has good grass ability.

2 Brother Pete - Has finished in the money in 6-of-7 turf starts; will sit midpack and try to grind it out late.

Long Shot - 8 Jules Journey

Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds

5 Public Policy - Has had 3 close calls with sliding Beyers; a return to his debut race and he could crush these.

8 Hye I’m Jack - Speedball cuts back in distance for this; also switching from turf to dirt.

Long Shot - 2 This Cat’s Awesome

Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), $200,000 Monrovia, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

2 Kindle - Big rider switch on this speedball to Rafael Bejarano; with the rail out 15 feet, she’ll just go fast.

8 Pontchatrain - Logical chalk is a perfect 2-for-2 down the hill; should get a perfect trip from a parking lot post.

Long Shot - 3 Purim’s Dancer

Race 9 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

1 Strollin Home - We’ll try the 10-pound bugboy on a speed horse from the rail; all the kid needs to do is break OK.

8 Sweet Lips Pooh - Ran miserably on turf in last; key vote is Rafael Bejarano taking the call for the money shot.

Long Shot - 4 Ninnavee

Best Bet - 5 Public Policy (race 7)

Santa Anita Park Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/6/$31.40; Long Shots, 7/1/$12.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Park Totals - 128/46/$281.20; Long Shots, 65/7/$89.40; Best Bets, 7/4/$14.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #1 Candy Kitty (4/1) in race 10 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Alpaca Fina ran out at Aqueduct. Stats - 8/4/$28.30; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick