HORSE RACING
May 6, 2011 - 1:13 am
TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 The Hunt Is On - He is 0-for-14 on synthetics, but has run many races fast enough to beat these; facing a weak group.
2 B's Lucky Strike - Tries blinkers on again to snap out of a 1-for-24 career; stretching out in distance around 2 turns.
Long Shot - 3 Trueno
Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $29,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
5 Park Time Luck - Tepid chalk must face a 1-2 punch from Mike Mitchell foes; one figures to come early, the other late.
1 Desert Flight - Mike Mitchell has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; been away 7 months, but holds a class edge.
Long Shot - 6 Manhattan Beach
Race 3 - 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $44,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 Sterling Outlook - Chance to be the speed of the speed should Chantal Sutherland so choose; might make sense to do so.
7 Cherokee Heaven - Favorite was claimed out of his last win by Hector Palma; has the back class to repeat the race.
Long Shot - 5 He's a Dance Star
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
8 Faithful Secret - Ran like a short horse in last returning off a 9-month hiatus; faced much tougher at Del Mar.
6 Every Ego - Marcelo Polanco adding blinkers on for this; is dropping in class, should show continued improvement.
Long Shot - 3 Anne's Inheritance
Race 5 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $55,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
3 Norvsky - Among a few exiting stakes races for this optional claimer; should be tighter in second start off a year hiatus.
7 Leroy's Dynameaux - Should gets lots of value with Edwin Maldonado riding; faced much tougher in the Arcadia.
Long Shot - 5 Universal Peace
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up
9 Hard Bill - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career-low level; like the parking lot post in an elongated sprint.
8 The Whammer - Won first time off the claim by Mike Mitchell; when he gets them good, they usually stay good for a while.
Long Shot - 1 Dave's Pacemaker
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $52,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds
1 Coil - Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry so expect one of them to win; saves all of the ground inside.
2 Smash - This is Bob Baffert's world and we're just peering in; suspect this guy will take back for a Baffert exacta.
Long Shot - 4 Metropolitan Man
Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
3 Popular Cause - His race two back is fast enough to upset these; like the turn back in distance, should be finishing strong.
8 Naturaliste - Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; beaten favorite in last showed solid improvement for Doug O'Neill.
Long Shot - 9 Quietly Waiting
Best Bet - 8 Faithful Secret (race 4)
Hollywood Park Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$22.40; Long Shots, 7/2/$15.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Hollywood Park Totals - 152/42/$302.20; Long Shots, 75/13/$120.60; Best Bets, 8/4/$16.40
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - 1 Arienza (4/1) in race 8 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Our Dark Knight ran out at Churchill Downs. Stats - 73/47/$366.40