Horse Racing: Today at Hollywood Park, Dec. 14

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile, Purse $52,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up

6 Causeithertz – Dead late closer can get the pace scenario to tag the early speed late; will sit in arrears and make one brush.

5 Leaving New York – One of the potential speedballs; we’ll see if he can get in front or settle just off Jimmy Simms.

Long Shot – 4 Surrey Star

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Stars and Moons – Has shown good improvement in his last two starts; like the cut back in distance from a mile for this.

4 Whipstock – Rallied well last out in first race for a price tag; repeat effort puts him in the hunt for the photo.

Long Shot – 1 Doubledown On Ten

Race 3 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

4 Prime Number – Exits a bullet workout after a solid second last time out; reunited with Kevin Krigger, can help the price.

2 Valdirone – Ran well in debut for Brian Koriner; showed good early speed to attend the pace throughout.

Long Shot – 8 Insideondoutside

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $32,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

6 Pine Walk – Private purchase makes her SoCal debut; the reputation of Calder shippers to SoCal is very good.

4 Tribal Custom – Sharp maiden claiming win in last; won ridden out like there is a lot more in the gas tank.

Long Shot – 1 Richiesgirlgotsoul

Race 5 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $48,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

6 No Silent – Has run second in 6-of-8 career starts; clear seconditis, but most in this field lack a killer instinct too.

3 Love That Action – Two of his three turf races are good; will sit in the back half and make one quick move.

Long Shot – 2 Smoking G

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

2 Sweet Sense – Did everything but win in a solid debut; Mike Pupye has an uncoupled entry so keep an eye on Mezzanotte.

7 Dawn’s Charm – Big improvement in second career start; like the parking lot post to clock the early speed to the inside.

Long Shot – 3 Mezzanotte

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $52,000, Optional claiming $62,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 In the Stars – Draw a line thru the Palm Springs debacle, her first dirt race; we know she is a proven commodity on grass.

2 Minds Eyes – Sharp in two turf sprint victories; stretches out around 2-turns for the first time, let’s see her kick going long.

Long Shot – 7 Plaza de Indias

Race 8 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Queenie Marini – Her best races have come over synthetics; horses seem to run for the apprentice Eliska Kubinova.

4 Indycat – Did a classic pop and stop in last; sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class level.

Long Shot – 7 Irenes Jackpot

Best Bet – 5 In the Stars (race 7)

Hollywood Park Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/6/$43.60; Long Shots, 7/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$7.40

Hollywood Park Totals – 349/95/$600.80; Long Shots, 176/23/$254.00; Best Bets, 20/11/$50.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #9 Spun Cap (4/1) in race 7 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Ambitoness won at Gulfstream Park paying $4.00 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats – 183/125/$1,087.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick