Horse Racing: Today at Hollywood Park, Dec. 21

Race 1 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $42,000, Claiming $50,000, 3-year-olds

2 Imperative - Dead late closer slides down one notch in class; has run two consistent races in a row.

3 Persuasive Paul - Should hold price as Joe Steiner horses rarely get overbet; has tactical speed to sit a nice trip.

Long Shot - 1 Sinfully

Race 2 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Muchos Besos - Reclaimed by Doug O’Neill, one of the best trainer angles in racing; reunited with Edwin Maldonado.

6 Sammy’s a Runnin’ - Like the parking lot post in an elongated sprint; chance to clock the early speed and move on the turn.

Long Shot - 2 Charlie’sboywins

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

4 Abide in Me - Changes barns to Doug O’Neill today; 4-for-4 in the money, need not improve a whole lot to beat these.

5 Screen Goddess - Tom Proctor has an uncoupled entry so caveat emptor; Gary Stevens usually gets the Proctor mount of choice.

Long Shot - 3 Sweet as a Rose

Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

8 Katie’s Garden - Ran two good races in New York without graduating; she has shown some decent ability.

6 Tiz Midnight - Logical chalk from the Bob Baffert barn; out since April, the tote board will tell you how ready she is.

Long Shot - 9 Swiss Heart

Race 5 - 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds

2 Too Fast to Pass - Nice win on the synthetics in last, now switched to grass; good meet for Peter Miller, good year in fact.

6 Aerial Artist - Saul Arias won a race yesterday with a ride you need to see to believe; very underrated, he can horseback.

Long Shot - 4 Kafister

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $22,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

11 Pretty Storm - Was pushed hard in last and held well for second; figures to be the speed of the speed tonight.

7 Vegas Bound - Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; should be a square price considering the low percentage connections.

Long Shot - 6 Another Victoria

Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $48,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Level Headed - Closed fast for second last time in a much improved effort; switches back to Gary Stevens tonight.

6 Foxy Boss - Turned in a real clunker last time; her race two back is fast enough to upset the apple cart.

Long Shot - 5 Burns Turn

Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up

7 Cost of Freedom - Rare to see Rafael Bejarano in an $8,000 claimer; every mount counts as he drives for the riding title.

8 Change of Plan - Liked his race two back where he sat a trip and rallied gamely; Peter Miller adding blinkers on today.

Long Shot - 9 Always the Same

Race 9 - 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $48,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

4 Ankeny Hill - Exits a game win for $50K price tag, now steps up in class; speed to lead from wire to wire.

2 U S Citizen - Tough trip in last so Marty Jones switches to Rafael Bejarano; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

Long Shot - 5 Brokered

Race 10 - 7 furlongs, $200,000 Soviet Problem, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

7 Swiss Lake Yodeler - Made the vets list but has worked three times since; Jerry Hollendorfer and Rafael Bejarano are tough.

4 Global Hottie - Goes from MSW win to stakes, but that’s the life of a 2-year-old; Bob Baffert will win the trainer title.

Long Shot - 8 Sprouts

Race 11 - 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

5 Moscato Girl - Rafael Bejarano has live mounts all day long; if he doesn’t clinch the title today, it’s all on him.

9 Ipolita - Ran miserably as a hot 6/5 favorite in debut; for forgiving handicappers, will get a better price in here.

Long Shot - 10 Anniversary Kitt

Best Bet - 5 Moscato Girl (race 11)

Hollywood Park Friday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/3/$30.40; Long Shots, 7/2/$22.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Totals - 412/109/$674.00; Long Shots, 198/34/$321.60; Best Bets, 22/9/$42.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #7 Sweet Moon (4/1) in race 1 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Early Success ran out at Fair Grounds. Stats - 195/131/$1,054.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick