He’s Not Elated Over This Card

Local horseplayers who have a need for maiden claiming races will have to wait a little bit longer today.

Post time today -- and a week from today, the final Friday cards of the meet -- is at 3 p.m. as Santa Anita heads into the last eight days of its winter-spring marathon.

Maiden claimers have become the staple of weekday cards and today is no exception. Three of the nine races are for non-winners racing for a $25,000 or $32,000 tag and there is also one other race for maidens who aren’t eligible to be claimed.

The richest event on the program also has the smallest field. The second, a $61,000 optional claimer at one mile on the turf, only attracted five fillies and mares.

Fun House, who has promised a lot more than she has delivered in her 13-race career, is the 6-5 favorite against I’m The Business, Naturally Wild, Kirtle and Medinaceli.

She is coming off an excellent try at the level. She finished second, beaten by a head by Rhythm Of Life on March 20 at today’s distance and looks to have the controlling speed. She will break from the rail and be ridden for the first time by Corey Nakatani.

Race of the day: Perfect Drift, who was third in last year’s Kentucky Derby, will make his first start on turf and first as a 4-year-old in today’s ninth at Keeneland. The $65,000 allowance is at one mile and Kent Desormeaux has the mount on the Dynaformer gelding.

Who’s hot: Eddie Martin. The jockey won with 10 of his first 20 mounts at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Who’s not: Gerard Melancon. The jockey lost with 26 of his first 27 rides at Lone Star.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Stand By Your Flag, Skywalker Red and Mr. Persistency in the sixth, Soup ‘N Crackers and Biker’s Sis in the seventh, Nogothalo, Paster’s Baby, Mighty Max and Bold Mind in the eighth and singling Above The Storm in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/223. Money: Previous day/meet total: $23.80/$1,259.20. Total money bet: $1,322.