HORSE RACING

By Richard Eng

Post Time noon

Race 1 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

Lucky Mama – Of the ones with experience, her debut race was strongest; if she improves a step, she’ll be awful tough.

Vulnerable – Was no factor in career debut at Del Mar 5-months back; note she exited a key race, offers plenty of value.

Long Shot – Sweet August Moon

Race 2 – 7 furlongs, $125,000 California Breeders’ Champion, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

Liberian Freighter – Liked the fact he showed good tactical speed before drawing off; Drysdale seldom cranks up his babies.

Dee Dee’s Legacy – It’s a tendency, even by me, to give too much weight to a MSW win; this guy exploded from last to first.

Long Shot – Bob Black Jack

Race 3 – 6 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

That’s Grand – FTS from the Pletcher barn attracts champion rider Gomez; suspect the tote board will sing his praises.

Hoods Up – Logical chalk due to two good career starts, so far; his last start, if repeated, still may leave him vulnerable.

Long Shot – El Martillo

Race 4 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $70,000, Optional claiming $125,000, 3-year-olds and up

Epic Power – Four straight seconds may be a turn-off for many; yet, he runs fast enough to upset and gets Nakatani back.

Toasted – Logical chalk figures to be way overbet with the combo of Gomez and Mitchell; solid turfer makes a nice living.

Long Shot – Heroi Do Bafra

Race 5 – 6 furlongs, Purse $34,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

Forest Phantom – Won first off the claim by Pupye in a gritty try; second start in 4-months, has back class to repeat.

Enter Anon – Won first time off the claim for Morey in a terrific effort; he’s capable of repeating, or doing even more.

Long Shot – Weekend Tiger

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Purse $52,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

Forestry’s Fire – Remember down the hillside turf course outside posts are better; square price on this dead late closer.

Buck – Speedball figures to get a jump on the rest; might lose some value due to Gomez riding for underrated Peter Miller.

Long Shot – Their He Goes

Race 7 – 7 furlongs, $250,000 Malibu, 3-year-olds

Silver Stetson Man – My choice to upset in a wide open opening day stakes; was flattered when exiting a solid key race.

Les Grands Trois – Dead late closer should see a ton of early pace to close into; interesting rider switch to Bejarano.

Long Shot – E Z Warrior

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf), $100,000 Sir Beaufort, 3-year-olds

Warning Zone – These stakes races are incredibly tough to decipher; I’ll go with value exiting the grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

Twilight Meteor – Gets class relief exiting the Hollywood Derby for this; like that Gomez chose to stick with Pletcher.

Long Shot – Monterey Jazz

Race 9 – 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

Home of the Bold – If you can get Gomez on an 8/1 shot like this, you have to use him; tactical speed to sit a good trip.

Hennessy’s Hope – Ran horribly last time after a solid career debut; Dollase adding blinkers on, expect a whole lot better.

Long Shot – Salty Scholar

Best Bet – Lucky Mama (race 1)

Hollywood Saturday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 22/4/$30.00; Long Shots, 11/2/$31.80; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Final Totals – 543/132/$930.60; Long Shots, 271/40/$523.80; Best Bets, 32/10/$41.40