HORSE RACING TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK By Richard Eng

[Lumi]

HORSE RACING
TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 7:05 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

Upper Manhattan - Slides down the claiming ladder to this career low class; stalking trip from the wide out.

Suances de Espana - She hasn't done anything wrong, so far; facing winners for the first time.

Long Shot - Most Popular

Race 2 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Swiss Love - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; speed to be involved early.

Chatty Lula - Rail skimming trip for Martin Garcia; found her best stride late in the deep stretch.

Long Shot - Goldeneh Medina

Race 3 - 7 1/2 furlongs, Purse $11,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Northern Station - Rafeal Bejarano is in deep water chasing Joel Rosario; Greg Gilchrist drops him down.

Dixie Magic - Logical chalk off a sharp win in last; has improved a lot since claimed by Andy Mathis.

Long Shot - Stroppy

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Tribal Fire - Ran too good to lose in return off a 18-month hiatus; birds eye view from a parking lot post.

Christy's Bullet - Felipe Valdez is a good hustle rider; Caesar Dominguez adds blinkers on for speed.

Long Shot - Atta Lora

Race 5 - 7 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

Collato - Dead late closer has kicked in a big run his last two races; neutral rider switch to Martin Pedroza.

Stormy Game - Fought gamely last time and is taken a better shot tonight; has some tactical speed.

Long Shot - Lookingforajackpot

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

Party Hard - Cannot remember the last time I wrote Beau Greeley barn is hot; 10-of-19 starters in the money.

Never - Second time out Bob Baffert; Rafael Bejarano takes over, expect improvement in second career start.

Long Shot - Cold East Wind

Race 7 - 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 20 feet), Purse $48,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Dotsy Jean - Should sit inside and see a fast pace to chase; Joel Rosario takes his time and rallies late.

Onefunsonofagun - Could be one of the primary speedballs; ran well in open company, drops down to face Cal-breds.

Long Shot - Multitasker

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Celena - Speedball tired late in last in a good try; if Corey Nakatani pops the gate, they may not catch her.

Youknowwhatilike - Dead late closer gets a rider switch to Martin Pedroza; her best stride will come late.

Long Shot - Galaxy Way

Best Bet - Dotsy Jean (race 7)

Hollywood Park Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$16.60; Long Shots, 8/2/$20.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Totals - 874/218/$1,542.80; Long Shots, 436/71/$734.80; Best Bets, 48/20/$86.00

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #3 Soave (8/1) in race 8 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Hot Money ran out at Belmont Park. Stats - 102/82/$600.80

 

[Lumi]

RICHARD ENG: Haskell shows marketing savvy

RICHARD ENG: Haskell shows marketing savvy

RICHARD ENG: Haskell shows marketing savvy
A few years ago, Monmouth Park management was criticized for paying appearance fee money for star 3-year-old horses to run in the Haskell. As far as I was concerned, they didn't need to apologize, or even defend themselves, for an aggressive business tactic.

Monmouth has hit a lot of home runs swinging for the fences. Previous Haskell winners include Big Brown last year, War Emblem, Point Given, Touch Gold, Skip Away and Serena's Song.

Thus, it's no surprise to see Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra commit to the Haskell on July 25. Her owner, Jess Jackson, is a good businessman. Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird also has committed to the race.

If Monmouth can attract Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, it would be the first meeting among three Triple Crown race winners of the same year since 1982 when Gato Del Sol, Aloma's Ruler and Conquistador Cielo met in the Travers. (The answer to the trivia question "Who upset this trio?" is Runaway Groom.) For now, Mine That Bird is pointing to the West Virginia Derby.

Marketing dollars are in short supply in horse racing. However, if spent wisely, the return on investment to create a mega-event is worth it. Having Rachel Alexandra will guarantee a huge crowd to the Jersey shore track.

The way the Haskell field looks now, Rachel Alexandra will be an odds-on favorite. The only 3-year-old I can see warming her up is Munnings, who has won two sprints, the Woody Stephens and Tom Fool. He's a fast horse, and his stock is rising.

Still, it'll take something unforeseen for Rachel Alexandra to lose the Haskell. And if she does lose, the last thing I want to hear is Jackson say she didn't like the Monmouth surface.

? CONTESTS -- Here's a final heads-up for the Gold Coast Summer Classic, set for July 23 to 25. In August, there will be two big-money handicapping tournaments: the $125,000 Guaranteed Race Handicapping Challenge at Wynn Las Vegas on Aug. 7 and 8, and Pick the Ponies from Aug. 27 to 29 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

? DEL MAR -- Del Mar opens Wednesday with a major switch from a six-day to five-day race week.

Also, Lucky's is doubling its twin quinella jackpot to $1,000 a day, a big overlay considering the limited number of betting outlets in town.

? HORSING AROUND -- I just read "Off to a Flying Start: Horsing Around the Language" by Bill Tivenan and Cassandra Cook. This fun book sheds light on everyday expressions that originated from horse racing.

 

[Hard Times]

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THANKS !!!!! :toast: