Today at Hollywood Park: November 17, 2013

TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $37,000, Claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds

3 One Firm Cat - Claimed by Gary Sherluck and aggressively raised from $25K to $35K; has back class to handle these.

6 Tahoe Flash - Huge rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; watch him wave his stick right handed in the lane.

Long Shot - 1 Kafister

Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $18,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Bobby Flay - Has shown improvement in second go round in SoCal; of course it helps that he is racing near the bottom.

1 Blue Collar Boy - Expect a rail skimming ride by Irving Orozco; takes off 5-pounds, not sure why he isn’t used more.

Long Shot - 7 Warren’s Joe T.

Race 3 - 7 1/2 furlongs, $100,000 Cat’s Cradle Handicap, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Warren’s Venada - That was a dynamite win last time in open company; slides down to face Cal-breds, albeit in a stakes.

3 Ciao Bella Luna - Hot Peter Miller barn takes over the filly; she’s added blinkers on and has some bullet workouts.

Long Shot - 2 Curvy Cat

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

6 Lucky Views - When Rafael Bejarano rides a FTS, I let his agent do the handicapping; watch the tote board for clues.

8 This Cat’s Awesome - Figures to be a clocker special from the Gary Sherluck barn; like that Joe Talamo takes the call.

Long Shot - 5 Super Reagan

Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $48,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Holy Candy - He’s come a long way since being on the KY Derby trail last spring; injuries have derailed his potential.

2 Blu Jon - Finished fast while trailing a blistering pace in last; John Shirreffs switches to Victor Espinoza for this.

Long Shot - 6 Northern Iowa

Race 6 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

9 Yana - Could be the shortest odds of the day right here; ran huge in debut and followed that with sparkling workouts.

6 Papa’s Dancing - Ran evenly in debut for trainer Brian Koriner; can be expected to improve under Joe Talamo.

Long Shot - 7 Magic Spot

Race 7 - 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $48,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

3 Brother Pete - Like the tactical speed because there are 2 who will duel in here; Rafael Bejarano could sit a perfect trip.

8 Empty Headed - You have to like the way Corey Nakatani rides in grass routes; he’ll sit in arrears and make one brush.

Long Shot - 4 Somethings Unusual

Race 8 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies, 2-year-olds

7 Global Hottie - Bob Baffert filly did everything but win last time as a 1/2 chalk; he takes the blinkers off tonight.

5 Moscato Girl - If the Baffert filly burps, this gal will be sitting chilly right behind her; may be racing for second though.

Long Shot - 8 Betty Bing Bing

Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

14 She’s All Yours - Gulp twice if you need Vod Farris to win the Pick 6; drops down in class off a sharp sprint win.

2 Splendiforous Moon - What a finale to the Pick 6 with a $110K carryover; if you’re live, I hope you are spread wide in here.

Long Shot - 3 Warren’s Judy

Best Bet - 9 Yana (race 6)

Hollywood Park Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/3/$12.80; Long Shots, 9/2/$16.60; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Totals - 116/30/$165.80; Long Shots, 56/13/$132.40; Best Bets, 7/2/$9.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #6 Don Dulce (6/1) in race 3 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Harpoon ran second at Aqueduct paying $3.30 to place and $2.50 to show. Stats - 179/119/$980.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick