HORSE RACING: Hollywood Park, Dec. 18, 2011

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