Horse Racing: Hollywood Park, Dec. 17, 2011
Today at HOLLYWOOD PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up
4 Clue Me In - Reclaimed by Julio Canani, one of the strongest trainer angles there is; will stalk and pounce late.
6 Mark of a Warrior - Another reclaimed by his former trainer, Robertino Diodoro; likes to win as 8-for-19 attests.
Long Shot - 3 Bradium
Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming 430,000, 2-year-olds
9 All Squared Away - Ran nice races during the summer in Inglewood; working bullets for his return in a soft spot.
12 Rio Good - More speed but Rafael Bejarano rarely gets into speed duels; lots of strategy here among the riders.
Long Shot - 5 Hava Cigar
Race 3 - 1 1/8th miles (turf), Purse $48,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
6 Farley Star - Mike Mitchell has an uncoupled entry so be forewarned; this mare unleashed a powerful late burst to win.
5 Imperialistic Diva - This is an easier spot than her last two races; tactical speed for Joel Rosario to sit a nice trip.
Long Shot - 3 Bonita Star
Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds
9 Speedway Monkey - Beaten favorite in last has shown steady improvement; tactical speed helps from this parking lot post.
2 Puff Pastry - Big shot to improve as she battled the chalk tooth and nail last out; like that Joel Rosario stays on.
Long Shot - 8 Vicki Victoria
Race 5 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
7 Victorian Prince - Upset special in an incredible difficult race; stalked a slow pace in last losing a dirty head bob.
2 Moudez - Dead late closer is in top form; key is he's moving up in class from NoCal grass routes, saves all the ground.
Long Shot - 10 Porfido
Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up
3 Genius - Superb debut win for Bob Baffert; flattered when uncoupled stablemate The Director won next out.
1 Wall Dance - Sneaky challenger gets to save all the ground today; Rafael Bejarano always saves something for the end.
Long Shot - 6 Hope and Believe
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, 2-year-olds
12 Tenacious Thomas - Debuted in a loaded MSW including Basmati who is in the Cash Call Futurity; square price at 8/1 odds.
1 Bobby Flay - Any FTS given this famous name better be able to run; figures to be really cooking in the deep stretch.
Long Shot - 9 Our Lucky son
Race 8 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $48,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
6 Killer Bear - Ran a better than looked second to the chalk Spud Spivens; he's always been stronger over synthetics.
3 Coluda - Jumps up from claiming races where he established a lot of race conditions; main fear is if he bounces off last.
Long Shot - 5 Dave in Dixie
Race 9 - 1 1/16th miles, $750,000 Cash Call Futurity, 2-year-olds
6 Sky Kingdom - Can look back at this field and point out many stakes winners; the highest odds colt among 3 from Bob Baffert.
9 Liaison - Would be no shock to see a Bob Baffert exacta finish; showed a lot of guts in winning the Real Quiet.
Long Shot - 4 Empire Way
Race 10 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
5 Subtle Greek - Capper to a pretty interesting Saturday card; Tom Bell is very underrated, capable of a upset finale.
6 To the Top - Mike Mitchell is winning races in bunches so this FTS will be favored; watch the tote board for more clues.
Long Shot - 8 Golden Nip
Best Bet - 12 Tenacious Thomas (race 7)
Hollywood Park Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$11.40; Long Shots, 7/2/$20.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Hollywood Park Totals - 390/113/$642.80; Long Shots, 193/28/$352.60; Best Bets, 24/11/$40.80
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #9 Bet On The Blue (15/1) in race 9 at Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Huxley Winner ran third at Tampa Bay paying $2.80 to show. Stats - 191/122/$962.20; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
