HORSE RACING

TODAY AT OAK TREE AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $12,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

2 Greeley's Ghost - Huge class drop quickly points to this guy; Rafael Bejarano and Carla Gaines are a deadly combo.

5 Bustanai - Third start off an 11-month hiatus; Mike Mitchell barn continues to run well, constant hot streak.

Long Shot - 6 Cookie Rules

Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

5 Banana Cream Pie - Solid debut from parking lot post 12 at Del Mar; was bet in debut, Joel Rosario for P Val.

1 Queenie Marini - Bob Baffert cull improved last time racing for a price tag; need not be much to handle this crew.

Long Shot - 7 Hot Ticket

Race 3 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

2 Popular Cause - Is bred by Orientate to be quick and win early; like that Rafael Bejarano takes the call for Eoin Harty.

1 Coil - Good to see Tom Proctor out west where the Proctor name was a staple of class racing; watch the tote board for clues.

Long Shot - 6 Awesome Patriot

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $40,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

8 Daylight Storm - Was left with too much to do last time; has more tactical speed so expect Rafael Bejarano to use it.

4 Rents Paid - Troubled trip last time in debut for the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; can upset with a clean journey.

Long Shot - 1 Pacific Avenue

Race 5 - 1 mile (turf), $150,000 Oak Tree Mile, 3-year-olds and up

2 Victor's Cry - Could be the recipient of a perfect trip; expect Tropic Storm and Colgan's Chip to soften up the chalk.

5 Sidney's Candy - Will the speedball blow a tire like his stablemate Twirling Candy in the Goodwood?; plenty of speed to lead.

Long Shot - 1 Meteore

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $29,000, Claiming $40,000, 2-year-olds

9 Jailbird Jimmy - Conservatively placed for a price tag off a MSW graduation; Doug O'Neill knows what he's got here.

1 Gibson Home Run - Simple tactics of go as fast and as far as he can; the key is if any will duel with him early on.

Long Shot - 5 The Phenom

Race 7 - 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $40,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Holloween Candy - Like the turn back in distance from turf route to sprint; gas to lead or to follow close up.

7 Separate Forest - Stupid ride in last to use up all her energy early; already proven she does not need the lead to succeed.

Long Shot - 6 Pink Diamond

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, $250,000 Ancient Title, 3-year-olds and up

6 Cost of Freedom - Excuse his two Del Mar losses, he runs much better at Hollywood; last race, not this, was a prep for John Sadler.

5 E Z's Gentleman - Another who appears to run better in Inglewood than Del Mar; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

Long Shot - 3 Truest Legend

Race 9 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $38,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

5 The Unusual One - When Barry Abrams wheels them back quickly, it is a very positive sign; will play catch me if you can.

7 Big Cozz - Good stalking effort in last; switch to Corey Nakatani, one of the best turf riders in Southern California.

Long Shot - 9 Rauschenberg

Best Bet - 2 Greeley's Ghost (race 1)

Oak Tree Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/5/$30.40; Long Shots, 7/2/$16.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.80

Oak Tree Totals - 85/25/$140.40; Long Shots, 41/6/$49.00; Best Bets, 5/1/$2.80

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #4 Gio Ponti (7/5) in race 10 at Keeneland. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Cara's Song won at Calder paying $4.60 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats - 167/119/$901.20