HORSE RACING

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