Horse Racing

TODAY AT OAK TREE AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 2-year-olds

6 Double D's Diamond - Vote for the hot connections, Mike Mitchell and Joe Talamo; blinkers on and only one career start.

7 Swiss Hero - Takes the weight off with the bugboy today; tactical speed to attend the early pace.

Long Shot - 1 What's the Rumpus

Race 2 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Wylie N Wyatt - Showed big improvement off the claim by Jack Carava; similar race is fast enough to beat these.

6 Majestic Afleet - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career-low class; need not be much to compete with these.

Long Shot - 4 Cruz Blanca

Race 3 - 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $40,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 She's Not Lion - Even run chasing others in this field; not often you get Rafael Bejarano at a square price.

7 Pink Diamond - Logical chalk is fast enough, but lacks a killer instinct; loves to run second in good company.

Long Shot - 1 Folk Dancer

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds

7 Working Capital - Given time to recuperate after an ill-fated trip to Charles Town; is red flag dropped in class, we'll see.

1 Good Brother - Consistent claimer keeps chugging along; ground saving trip for the underrated Brice Blanc.

Long Shot - 3 Cat Calloway

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 All Man - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career-low class; red flag move, but the vote of Rafael Bejarano counts.

1 Unionize - Proven competitor clearly fits at this level; P Val will carve out a sound journey from the wood.

Long Shot - 3 Exclamation

Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

8 Aqua Fever - Won and was DQ'd in career debut at Fairplex; could get overlooked by higher priced spread.

4 Industry Leader - Kristin Mulhall is the hottest barn in the country, not just in SoCal; hires Rafael Bejarano to ride.

Long Shot - 9 Popular Cause

Race 7 - 1 mile (turf), $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Blue Maiden - Tested for class after showing tons of ability; who knows how high her ceiling will end up being.

7 Turning Top - Logical chalk just missed a grade 1 win in last; she has overachieved, but give her credit for that.

Long Shot - 6 Princess Taylor

Race 8 - 7 1/2 furlongs, Purse $40,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

4 Cee's Pryme - He's 2-for-2 wins facing Cal-breds; thus he is eligible for this first-level open allowance, great spot.

8 Boychik - He may not last around 2 turns, but this elongated sprint is perfect; tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

Long Shot - 1 Equiparado

Race 9 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $38,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

2 Tweebster - Many times close, but no cigar, with 6-of-7 in the money finishes; Martin Garcia carves out a nice journey.

11 Big Cozz - He has the talent, but appears to be an in-and-outer; if Victor Espinoza can save some ground, an upset looms.

Long Shot - 4 Heroically

Best Bet - 4 Blue Maiden (race 7)

Oak Tree Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 20/6/$33.00; Long Shots, 10/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.40

Oak Tree Totals - 350/95/$679.40; Long Shots, 167/24/$217.20; Best Bets, 21/9/$34.40

The Plaza Breeders' Cup seminar will be Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. My apologies for an error in last Friday's column.

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #3 Dancinginherdreams (2/1) in race 10 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Battle of Hastings was scratched at Keeneland. Stats - 181/131/$997.50