Horse Racing: Today at Hollywood Park, March 31

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

3 Farayya – Richard Baltas barn quietly has been hot this meet; he doesn’t have many horses, but most have been running well.

4 Readyforhercloseup – Lack of early speed always puts her behind the 8 ball; was flying past runners too late in last.

Long Shot – 2 Mille Luna

Race 2 – 1 mile, Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Ubelongtomemissy – Hard to swallow low morning line of 2/5 shows the weakness of this field; a single in the pick 5.

5 Night Dance – Must respect the trainer, Mike Mitchell, more than the horse; Julien Leparoux will leave for Keeneland soon.

Long Shot – 4 Warren’s Lorie S.

Race 3 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 4-year-olds and up

9 World Renowned – Tepid chalk in an ugly looking heat; with 12 losses, is getting a bit long in the tooth.

1 Just Because – Ran OK first off the claim for John Sadler; beaten a country mile, any value comes from low percentage rider.

Long Shot – 2 Cross Town Rival

Race 4 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $56,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 3-year-olds

2 Foxy Boss – Last two close calls are enough to make her the choice; needs to show some killer instinct in the late stages.

9 Showgirl Form – Outran her 13/1 odds in deb ut with a dazzling rally; if she improves one step she’ll be right there at the end.

Long Shot – 6 Scooter Bird

Race 5 – 1 mile, $70,000 Santana Mile, 4-year-olds and up

2 Midnight Transfer – His speed figure two back is the one he needs to repeat; was on the Triple Crown trail last spring.

4 Hoorayforhollywood – Bob Baffert’s only starter on the card; lost a long nose to Tres Borrachos in last.

Long Shot – 5 Tres Borrachos

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $30,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Bilbao – Tiny edge in a most difficult heat; has run about the same kind of turf race three times in a row.

2 Toluca – Shudder to place him this high as the Jeff Mullins barn is ice cold; watch the tote board for clues.

Long Shot – 9 Catienus Gold

Race 7 – 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Fiesta Express – Game win last time as the favorite; cheap horses seldom repeat, but that’s what we’re asking for here.

1 Rossi Reserve – Did a hasty pop and stop in last; Vann Belvoir takes the blinkers off so she’s not so speed crazy.

Long Shot – 2 Plazarita

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $60,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 4-year-olds and up

4 Summer Hit – Has shown gumption in all three turf races; won two close photos sandwiched by a lip defeat two races ago.

6 Key Decision – Ran better than looked in last and offers value at 9/2 odds; A. C. Avila loves to win at some price.

Long Shot – 1 Gab Power

Race 9 – 6 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

7 Magic Maya – Tough to take Kayla Stra on a 5/2 price; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

8 Glorious Memories – Tepid chalk hasn’t shown a whole lot so far; if you’re live in the pick 6, hopefully you’re spread out.

Long Shot – 3 Hello Stormy

Best Bet – 6 Ubelongtomemissy (race 2)

Santa Anita Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/6/$36.00; Long Shots, 9/2/$24.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$5.60

Santa Anita Park Totals – 951/252/$1,634.30; Long Shots, 471/63/$710.60; Best Bets, 54/21/$87.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #2 Accent (2/1) in race 1 at Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Amira’s Prince won at Fair Grounds paying $4.60 to win, $3.60 to place and $3.20 to show. Stats – 52/37/$288.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick