HORSE RACING: Hollywood Park, Dec. 18, 2011
December 18, 2011 - 2:04 am
Today at HOLLYWOOD PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
3 March Mary - Easy win at 2/5 in last, claimed by Kristin Mulhall; has enough back class to repeat the race.
5 For You My Heart - Claimed by Bob Hess up in NoCal; dropped in class, blinkers off, Rafael Bejarano up, your move.
Long Shot - 6 Chocolate Caliente
Race 2 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $52,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
1 Tamarack Smarty - Like the class relief and turn back in distance; will save all the ground and rally in the lane.
2 Willyconker - Moving up the class ladder following 2 straight grass wins; clearly in rare form since joining Doug O'Neill.
Long Shot - 5 Times Gone By
Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds
5 Eden's Moon - Bob Baffert FTS has been working fast, what a shock; morning line chalk, watch the tote board for clues.
1 Flashy Dame - FTS from Peter Eurton gets the services of Rafael Bejarano; don't mind the shortest way home from the wood.
Long Shot - 6 Chloe W
Race 4 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Russian River - Three race win streak despite declining Beyer speed figures; capable of improving and winning again.
2 Vikkilee - Huge rider switch to Joel Rosario for the money shot; suspect a stronger finish in the stretch run.
Long Shot - 3 Hameildaeme
Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 2-year-olds
4 Atta Boy Pete - Claimed by Dean Greenman off 2 daylight wins in NoCal; key vote comes from Joel Rosario taking the call.
6 Gotham Knights - Another NoCal invader gets a rider upgrade to Rafael Bejarano; has shown good late punch over synthetics.
Long Shot - 7 I Will Follow
Race 6 - 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
1 Alala - Like the inside posts in Inglewood turf sprints; Darrell Vienna adding blinkers on, expect more early speed.
7 Pretty Much - Good late run in last for a better than looked fourth; suspect will see a contested pace to chase.
Long Shot - 6 Dot's Mark
Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up
5 Arresting Officer - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; might excel facing his cheaper friends.
3 Nuclear Missile - Was flattered when Liberal Arts won next out; another big rider switch, this time to Rafael Bejarano.
Long Shot - 4 Le' Heat
Race 8 - 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $48,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up
3 Rauschenberg - Third start off a 5-month hiatus; consistent but shy to winning races, maybe Garrett Gomez will make a difference.
2 Industry Leader - Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; this is his turf debut, but shown a fondness for synthetic surfaces.
Long Shot - 5 Mandated Bliss
Race 9 - 7 1/2 furlongs, $80,000 On Trust Handicap, 3-year-olds and up
2 Red Defense - Nearly perfect with 5-of-6 wins in his career; has never run or won going this far, main question mark.
1 Spud Spivens - Hate the rail post in this elongated sprint; like his last win and turning back in distance.
Long Shot - 7 Chiloquin
Race 10 - 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds
3 Never Shea Never - Beaten in debut as a heavy chalk; Mike Mitchell may top off a championship meet with a win.
9 Scream Queen - Morning line favorite in a wide open finale; sliding down the maiden claiming ladder to this low level.
Long Shot - 4 Dustin's Magic
Best Bet - 1 Russian River (race 4)
Hollywood Park Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/3/$27.00; Long Shots, 9/1/$10.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$9.80
Hollywood Park Totals - 410/116/$669.80; Long Shots, 202/29/$362.60; Best Bets, 25/12/$50.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #5 Island Bound (5/2) in race 2 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Bet On the Blue ran third at Fair Grounds paying $6.20 to show. Stats - 192/123/$968.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick