HORSE RACING
May 26, 2010 - 11:00 pm
TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 1 p.m.
Race 1 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $42,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
Pop'shands Are Hot - Been away 10 months, but faced much tougher foes at Del Mar; key will be how fit Barry Abrams has him.
Syncobeat - Logical chalk in a race with haves and have nots; helps with the big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano.
Long Shot - Thermal Wave
Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $44,000, Optional claiming $80,000, 3-year-olds
Lions Story - Real stinker last time as the heavy favorite; he's better than that and could rebound at a square price tonight.
Ranger Heartley - Speedball gets needed class relief to regain his confidence; was in too tough in graded stakes.
Long Shot - Tiz a Knight
Race 3 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up
Scottish Diamond - Chalk ran a winning race in defeat last time out.
Trainspotting - Has done well in Inglewood with 2-of-4 wins; should get value as his last race came at Los Alamitos.
Long Shot - Run Over You
Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Kaylie's Joy - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; speedball could be tough to catch.
Warren's Mystery - Dead late closer figures to pass tired horses in the lane; grinder will pass as many as stop in front of her.
Long Shot - Shadow Queen
Race 5 - 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $46,000, Optional claiming $62,500, 3-year-olds and up
Get Funky - Cagey vet had to run for a $50K price tag to return to the winners' circle; should still be good at this level.
Booted - Has a lot of gaps in his resume, but ran well last out at Santa Anita; not facing the toughest crew in here.
Long Shot - Hidden Blessing
Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Claiming $20,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds
Scratchthemoon - Rafael Bejarano had mulitple options, lands here for Marty Jones; improved first out for new barn.
Merrytagio - Long shot capabilities with this recent graduate; David Flores will pick up the loose chips late.
Long Shot - Ridemetothemoon
Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $44,000, Optional claiming $25,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
Pinstripe Kid - Every horse from A. C. Avila needs to be closely evaluated; first off the claim, even more so.
Forthreeforeuclid - Beaten favorite is in for a dogfight with these; ran well from difficult post 11 last time out.
Long Shot - Danzing Tribal
Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up
Sulution - Been away 10 months, but is working top shelf; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.
Resplendently - Another taking the big class drop from MSW to maiden claiming; the day's toughest heat is this.
Long Shot - No Stadium
Best Bet - Scottish Diamond (race 4)
Hollywood Park Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/8/$45.40; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.20
Hollywood Park Totals - 388/111/$702.60; Long Shots, 191/18/$212.20; Best Bets, 23/12/$53.20
SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #5 Pennington (2/1) in race 7 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Our Dark Knight ran second at Monmouth Park paying $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Stats - 97/69/$527.80