HORSE RACING TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK By Richard Eng

[Lumi]

HORSE RACING
TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $52,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Lady Lumberjack - Thin start to a holiday card; just missed in the Oaks last time, turns back in distance today.

Lemon Supreme - Lots of gaps in her resume, still she shows talent; like that Rafael Bejarano takes the call.

Long Shot - Inspiration Within

Race 2 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Maggie and Hope - Just missed last time and is taken to atone; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

Suzicutie - Takes a humongous class drop to face these; could easily see a Rafeal Bejarano daily double.

Long Shot - Beau Chant

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $50,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Alpine Yodel - Her solid turf experience gives her a tiny edge in here; rail hugging ride for Joel Rosario.

Excessive Blend - Tries turf for the first time; she is bred to love the stuff and go long too.

Long Shot - Hot Headliner

Race 4 - 1 1/8th miles, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,0o00, 3-year-olds and up

Joking Sam - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Bob Baffert cull can do.

Personality Kid - Ran miserably in last, for forgiving handicappers only; has run races fast enough to win.

Long Shot - Warren's Allstar

Race 5 - 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $37,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds and up

Majestic Diamond - Leonard Powell won a race on Friday night; big rider switch to Brice Blanc, Euro pairing.

Shadow of Illinois - 9-YO veteran is on top of his game right now; will settle and make one big brush.

Long Shot - Mutak Gold

Race 6 - 7 furlongs, Purse $26,000, Maiden claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up

Temerity - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; his race 2-back wins it.

Turf and Sky - Been away 18-months for Marty Jones; key for me is he hires Rafael Bejarano to ride.

Long Shot - No Caps No Floors

Race 7 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

Forest Danz - Continues to run one good race after another for Melody Conlon; she goes to the bugboy Reyes Santiago.

Public Image - Ran a winning race in defeat last time; is dropped by Doug O'Neill in a now or never spot.

Long Shot - Spot the Diplomat

Race 8 - 1 1/8th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), $150,000 American Handicap, 3-year-olds and up

Whatsthescript - Ran a great race in the Shoemaker off a 6-month hiatus; should be tighter for this.

Monterey Jazz - Showed his old energy last time in a powerful wire to wire score; will show his heels to the field.

Long Shot - Storm Military

Race 9 - 1 1/8th miles, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

Marquet Rebel - Woke up on the stretch out last time; he probably liked the softer pace and grinding late.

Cold Ruler - Dead late closer will some day see the pace he needs; chance to cash another paycheck.

Long Shot - Action in May

Best Bet - Lady Lumberjack (race 1)

Hollywood Park Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$33.60; Long Shots, 8/2/$17.00; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80

Hollywood Park Totals - 749/181/$1,303.00; Long Shots, 374/64/$670.60; Best Bets, 42/17/$76.60

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #1 Warrior's Reward (9/5) in race 8 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Funny Moon won at Belmont Park paying $3.80 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Stats - 95/75/$565.90

 

[Lumi]

At the Gate - Saturday

At the Gate - Saturday

At the Gate - Saturday


You probably don?t know it, but the first Breeders? Cup Challenge ?Win and You?re In? races in North America will be contested this afternoon at Monmouth Park.

The winner of the $250,000 Salvator Mile (G3) earns a berth in the Breeders? Cup Mile, and the winner of the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) earns a free ticket into the Breeders? Cup Turf.

There are 62 ?Win and You?re In? races this year, and I bet you didn?t know two of them were already run.

The first of the 62 was the Champions Mile (G1) run at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on April 26 and was won by Sight Winner, earning a start in the Breeders? Cup Dirt Mile.

The second ?Win and You?re In? was the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), which was held at the Curragh on June 27.

The winner was Dar Re Mi, who earned a berth in the Filly and Mare Turf.

It might just be me, but it seems silly to already have a guaranteed starting berth in the Breeders? Cup before the Del Mar and Saratoga meets even start.

It will be interesting to see if any of these winners of the ?Win and You?re In? races overseas actually make the trip to Santa Anita this November.

There are ten more starting berths in the Breeders? Cup up for grabs outside of North America.

In the meantime, both the Salvator Mile and the U.N. Stakes are good betting races, included here in today?s column.


Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:

BEL Race 1 Clm $10,000 (1:00 ET)
#5 Goldispretty 10/1
#3 Debating 4/1
#1 Aly's Wheat / #1a Successful Affair 2/1
#6 Irish Majesty 6/1

Analysis: #5 Goldispretty broke poorly and was not a threat last out over soft footing on the turf and returns to the main track here. The gelding beat $14K claimers on dirt two back and was claimed out of that race by the Ortiz barn. The gelding does not have much of a turf pedigree and obviously could not handle the footing. Three he beat two back are back in this race and two others, the fourth and sixth place finishers came out of that race to win next out. He is reunited with Maragh and the 10/1 ML looks generous.

#3 Debating stalked the early pace while in between runners, got into the mix turning for home and flattened out in the stretch to finish fourth versus $10K starter handicap company. The gelding was a smart winner two back versus $16K non winners of a race in six months. The eight year old is back in for a straight tag here and he has been popular at the claim box, taken five times in his last ten starts and seven times since last April.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 1,3,5,6
TRI: 3,5 / 1,3,5,6 / 1,3,4,5,6,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 10 Suburban Hcp G2 (5:49 ET
#4 Asiatic Boy 5/2
#6 Rising Moon 8/1
#3 It's a Bird 2/1
#2 Dry Martini 6/1

Analysis: #4 Asiatic Boy ran big last out in the G1 Stephen Foster in a runner up finish behind Macho Again and a nose in front of multiple G1 winner Einstein. I was not sure how this guy was going to run last out and he ran much better than I thought he would. he has run well on dirt in the past including a runner up finish in last year's G1 Dubai World Cup behind Curlin and he won at today's distance three back in a tune up to this year's Dubai World Cup[, where he failed to fire in a disappointing 12th place finish. he bounced back last out and while he could regress in his second start since arriving from Dubai, he put in a good breeze on 6/26 and I think he is going to run another solid effort here.




#6 Rising Moon was part of the pace last out, made a move from the outside and weakened late to finish third in the 1 1/2 mile G2 Brooklyn last out. The five year old makes his third start of his current form cycle for the Dutrow barn. The six year old has enough pedigree to handle the distance and checked in third in this race last year. #3 It's a Bird has won three of his last four starts, all with a 107 Beyer. He won the G3 Lone Star Park 'Cap last out in a game effort by a head over Jonesboro, who came back to win the G2 Cornhusker in his next outing on 6/27 at Prairie Meadows. He is a logical contender in here but the 2/1 ML sure seems to be on the light side.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 2,3,4,6
TRI: 4,6 / 2,3,4,6 / 2,3,4,6,8,9

Today's Featured Races of the Day from Monmouth Park:

MTH Race 9 Salvator Mile Hcp G3 (4:50 ET)
#4 Kiss the Kid 15/1
#3 Solar Flare 4/1
#2 Smooth Air 5/2
#5 Coal Play 4/1

Analysis: #4 Kiss the Kid is an interesting longshot here as the six year old returns to the main track here after a sixth place finish in the Monmouth Stakes behind the winner Presious Passion, who is one of the main contenders in today's U.N. Three back this guy won the G3 Appleton before coming up short in the stretch in his last two starts. He has won 3 of 9 on dirt in his career including third in both the G1 Donn and G2 GP 'Cap last year. The barn is going well at the meeting and this guy figures to get overlooked on the tote here. If fits if he runs his best and we should catch a generous price.

#3 Solar Flare is coming off a career top when he Beyered a 111 beating three foes in the Frisk Me Now over the main track here off a three month break. He does not have a lot of room to regress off his last start and still win here but he has shown in his past races he can compete at a top level. He was a game second last summer in the G1 Suburban. A slight regression off his career top still puts him right in the mix here.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 8/1 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 2,3,4,5
TRI: 3,4 / 2,3,4,5 / 2,3,4,5,8

MTH Race 10 United Nations S. G1 (5:20 ET)
#4 Spice Route 4/1
#5 Court Vision 3/1
#7 Presious Passion 9/2
#2 Strike a Deal 8/1

Analysis: #4 Spice Route comes in here off a good effort last out in a runner up finish in the G3 Louisville 'Cap going 1 1/2 miles. The gelding stalked the early pace, took over the lead and could not hold off #3 Brass Hat late. Two back the gelding returned off a two month break with a smart win in the G2 Elkhorn. He came up short to #7 Presious Passion three back in Florida but may be able to turn the tables here. He looks like he should get into good position as they enter the stretch and may get the jump on the late runners.

#5 Court Vision is a tricky read in here as he has come up short in each of his last four starts, each looking like he had a shot of winning. The colt should get some pace to run at today but I'm not sure this guy really want to go this far. #7 Presious Passion won this race last year in gate to wire fashion and it is no secret Elvis is going to use that same strategy here this year. He came back gamely to take the Monmouth last out after losing the lead, prevailing by a nose over the late charging #1 Banrock. If he shakes loose early and is able to set moderate fractions like he did last year he could prove tough to catch. The 9/2 ML looks fair enough, but it seems likely this guy is going to get more than his fair share of attention at the windows.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 2,4,5,7
TRI: 4,5 / 2,4,5,7 / 2,4,5,7,8

Live Longshots: These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Belmont Park
R1: #5 Goldispretty 10/1
R2: #8 Zip By You 20/1
R2: #11 She?s Prime 10/1
R3: #3 Wirebuster 12/1
R4: #5 Vertical Flight 8/1
R6: #11 Personal Shopper 10/1
R6: #10 Graceful Afleet 8/1
R7: #5 Solvent 8/1
R8: #5 American Dance 8/1
R10: #6 Rising Moon 8/1
R11: #9 Memorized 15/1
R11: #5 Chapin Beach 12/1