Horse Racing
December 26, 2010 - 12:00 am
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time noon
Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $18,000, Claiming $10,000, 3-year-olds and up
7 Capture the Call - Runs for half his price tag last time out; is 1-for-1 wins on dirt, a big issue early this meet.
2 Skellytown - Got solid dirt experience last 2 starts at Turf Paradise; fast enough to be part of the late mix.
Long Shot - 5 Streets of Heaven
Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 2-year-olds
2 Rockin Harbor - You'll have an edge on me having seen 1 dirt race; saves ground and grinds it out in the stretch.
8 Ultimate Question - His 1 dirt race was good at Fairplex; big rider switch to Corey Nakatani for the money shot.
Long Shot - 1a Fuerte Royal
Race 3 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $28,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
10 Valley Cat - Has shown good tactical speed in 3 turf starts; lost by a head bob in last in a gallant effort.
1 Jonas Brother - Calder shippers historically have done well in SoCal; like that the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer will train.
Long Shot - No Stadium
Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $54,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
9 The Factor - $250K baby ran well in debut for Bob Baffert; flattered when Pride of Silver won next time out.
10 Houston Harbor - Steve Asmussen has a 30-horse stable in SoCal for the first time; most of his stock has dirt experience.
Long Shot - 8 Eric the Ram
Race 5 - 7 furlongs, $100,000 California Breeders' Champion, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
9 Arresting Officer - Like the parking lot post in this elongated sprint; was sharp in debut, now stepping up in class.
4 Thirtyfirststreet - Big improvement in second career start got him his diploma; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.
Long Shot - 7 Real Cool Dude
Race 6 - 7 furlongs, $250,000 La Brea, Fillies, 3-year-olds
9 Always a Princess - Bob Baffert figured she was better off on dirt in her last 2 starts; like the turn back in distance.
3 Switch - Solid second in the BC Filly & Mare Sprint; that was over Churchill dirt, so she has the class and resume.
Long Shot -11 Champagne d'Oro
Race 7 - 1 mile (turf), $150,000 Sir Beaufort, 3-year-olds
5 Sidney's Candy - Has the speed and class to dominate from the start; Joel Rosario plays catch me if you can.
4 Sebastian Flyte - New pilot in eastern superstar Julien Leparoux; will relax early and unleash in the stretch.
Long Shot - 8 Make Music for Me
Race 8 - 7 furlongs, $250,000 Malibu, 3-year-olds
5 Noble's Promise - Should see a wicked fast pace for Julien Leparoux to close into; natural router will relish 7-furlongs.
4 Caracortado - Impressive prep in last off a 6-month hiatus; underrated and figures to offer some value.
Long Shot - 3 Theskyhasnolimit
Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
2 Breakmark - Figures to get overlooked in this wide open finale; P Val has speed to lead or sit just off the early pace.
7 Johnnie Gold - His dirt workouts have been eyebrow raising; suspect could outrun his 8/1 odds for A.C. Avila.
Long Shot - 8 Forward Commitment
Best Bet - 5 Sidney's Candy (race 7)
Hollywood Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 4/2/$9.40; Long Shots, 0/0/$0; Best Bet, 0/0/$0
Hollywood Park Final Totals - 470/141/$793.60; Long Shots, 236/38/$377.40; Best Bets, 28/15/$51.40
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - 1 Brilliant Speed (5/2) in race 4 at Tampa Bay Downs. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Showmanship ran second at Parx Racing paying $4.00 to place and $4.00 to show. Final Stats - 208/149/$1,154.60