Not a Day to Play the Field

Anybody who skipped the meet at Fairplex Park--which isn’t hard to do--will get a taste of what county fair racing is like today at Santa Anita.

There’s not much to sink one’s teeth into as the average field size is less than eight runners and there are some less-than-stellar lineups, including the fifth, a $10,000 claimer for older fillies and mares.

The 8-5 favorite in the race is Annie Lil, who is dropping three levels in class and who has lost six in a row since winning at Santa Anita in March. She has been beaten by a total of 303/4 lengths in her last three starts for owner Nick Alexander and trainer Mike Mitchell.

She is one of only three in the race who have won in 2001. Gemini Gold, a 12-1 longshot, won a $6,250 claimer at Golden Gate Fields in February while Lady Luckster, a 6-1 longshot, won at Santa Anita at 57-1 that same month.

Another race that will have them flocking to Arcadia is the ninth, a $32,000 maiden claimer for California breds. The nine participants are a combined 0 for 39 and have managed to make the board only eight times. Milenarian, the 2-1 favorite, was second twice at Fairplex, which makes him hot stuff in this field.

Race of the day: Nashoba, the 5-2 choice on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, will try to remain perfect in this country when she seeks her fifth victory in a row for trainer Carla Gaines. The gray mare, who has shown versatility in four well-spaced victories, tops the field in the seventh, an optional claimer at one mile on the turf.

Who’s hot: Bobby Frankel. The trainer won two more Grade I stakes last weekend, taking the Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park with Timboroa on Saturday, then the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship with Senure on Sunday.

Who’s not: Northern Johnny. The veteran gelding will make start No. 36 as he seeks victory No. 2 in today’s seventh at Fresno. The son of Northern Flagship did score his only victory there, so beware.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Rafid and Cosmipolitan in the fourth, Annie Lil and Da Hot Affair in the fifth and Adorable One and Escape With Me in the sixth.