HORSE RACING

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