Horse Racing: Today at Hollywood Park, May 18

By Richard Eng

Post Time 11 a.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $33,000, Maiden claiming $75,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Hard Play – Was well bet to 7/2 in career debut; did a pop and stop, now is dropping first time for a price tag.

3 Brother Greg – Another taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; need not be much in this group.

Long Shot – 1 Awesome Address

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $35,000, Starter Allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Noble Exchange – Brian Koriner is off to a hot start this meet; expect Edwin Maldonado to get into the race early.

4 Derringer – Has been ridden mostly for early speed; Rafael Bejarno put him on the engine last time out.

Long Shot – 1 Talk of the Town

Race 3 – 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $54,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Wednesday – Good experience in turf sprints down the hill at Santa Anita; one turf race in Inglewood was a route try.

4 My Cinsation – Speedball has the right rider in Edwin Maldonado; suspect he’ll put him on the engine early.

Long Shot – 1 Corlett Drive

Race 4 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $52,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Gifting – Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; both are clearly fast enough to win this.

4 Salt Tequila Lime – Ran well in debut more than a year ago; the longer Baffert odds horse wins a lot.

Long Shot – 3 Ridingwiththedevil

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf), $100,000 Fran’s Valentine, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Top Kisser – There is little wrong with her resume; 3 wins, 2 second among 5 starts, saves all the ground inside.

4 Bench Glory – Liked her win two races ago versus Cal-breds in the Irish O’Brien; main question is getting the extra distance.

Long Shot – 6 Dancingtothestars

Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Claiming $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Rock U Up – Suspect this filly is sitting on a big race; Kayla Stra will help guarantee a square price.

2 Salty Forecast – Sharp win over lesser at the bottom maiden claiming class; she may have improved enough to beat these.

Long Shot – 4 Spring Gal

Race 7 – 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $32,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

2 Mr. Bossy Pants – These are clearly his friends at this $25K class; tactical speed, inside post, to sit a nice trip.

5 Blue Jay Attack – Ran a tremendous race in last after a poor start; job will be easier with a decent beginning.

Long Shot – 1 Yes It’s Snowing

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, Purse $23,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Instinctively Bold – Showed good speed in debut before tiring late; drops down in class and should improve for Vann Belvoir.

7 Storm Castle – Chalk couldn’t overcome a bad start in debut; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

Long Shot – 5 Sports Report

Race 9 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $54,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

1 Insideondoutside – Beaten favorite in last barely ran in anger; his prior races are fast enough to upset these.

4 Rock Me Baby – Will try to be the speed of the speed today; tries 2-turns for the first time.

Long Shot – 10 Swift Eagle

Race 10 – 1 1/16th miles, $150,000 Marjorie Everett Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Lady of Fifty – Has the most back class among the starters; won the grade 3 Bayakoa at Hollywood last fall.

6 Open Water – Chased the favorite Lady of Fifty two races ago in the Bayakoa; her better races have come at Inglewood.

Long Shot – 7 Maker Or Breaker

Race 11 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Maddog Maddie – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; key vote is Rafael Bejarano in the finale.

3 Goottobewild – Two good seconds point to a logical contender; can win this with just one step of improvment.

Long Shot – 12 Speedy Vixen

Best Bet – 4 Lady of Fifty (race 10)

Hollywood Park Friday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/6/$36.40; Long Shots, 7/1/$7.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Totals – 232/62/$381.00; Long Shots, 109/15/$151.80; Best Bets, 13/3/$8.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #7 City of Weston (6/1) in race 6 at Pimlico. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Ricky Tick ran out at Churchill Downs. Stats – 79/54/$400.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick