HORSE RACING

TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 7:05 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $35,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Balboa Bay – Like the fact that all four of his career starts are around 2 turns; best stride in the lane.

1 First Strike – Solid resume albeit in sprints; goes long for the first time, will get a ground saving trip.

Long Shot – 2 Brass Plate

Race 2 – 7 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Twodollarstowin – Hate the rail post but like the horse; mare has proven to love the surface in Inglewood.

5 Justincredible – Improving with each start off a 14-month hiatus; elongated sprint distance not a problem.

Long Shot – 8 Appealing Afare

Race 3 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $55,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Downhill Diva – I’ve always thought she’d be better as a late-closing sprinter; good post to follow the favorite.

1 Excellent News – Speed and the rail will be aided by the turf rail out 10 feet; simply the one to catch.

Long Shot – 3 Win for M’lou

Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Meke Someone Happy – Has closed well in sprints, now stretching out around 2 turns; figures to sit a bit closer.

1 Dramatic Reward – Don’t you like playing horses vanned off in their last start?; her race two back can upset these.

Long Shot – 8 Shekey

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $29,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Advice – Has enough back class to boss these from the rail; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

2 Streets of Heaven – Moving up the class ladder while in the best form of his career; stalks and pounces late.

Long Shot – 4 Fire Break

Race 6 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

2 Cat Talk – Was poorly ridden in last when under a stranglehold; reunited with Garrett Gomez who knows him better.

9 Minister d’Oro – He’s had lots of chances but gets a lot of paychecks; Peter Miller barn is red hot right now.

Long Shot – 6 Dontshootthedeputy

Race 7 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds

5 Courtside – Blazing early speed is his best weapon; class drop will help, simple tactics for Joel Rosario.

3 Edgewick Road – Dead-late closer will wish for a rapid early pace; sits in arrears and makes one brush.

Long Shot – 1 Free Pourin

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

8 Besame Suances – Been away 11 months, but respect the work of Darrell Vienna; bred to be a turf lover.

4 A Moment In Time – His last two turf races are fast enough to beat these; logical chalk has good tactical speed.

Long Shot – 5 What a Rush

Best Bet – 1 Advice (race 5)

Hollywood Park Thursday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/5/$32.20; Long Shots, 7/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Totals – 358/95/$682.80; Long Shots, 173/29/$268.60; Best Bets, 20/7/$30.40

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – #7 Sola Gratia (7/2) in race 7 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, All Drama ran out at Belmont Park. Stats – 85/52/$397.50