HORSE RACING

TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $35,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Achak – He is on a roll for one very hot Mike Mitchell barn; has won 4-of-8 starts over synthetic surfaces.

2 Coo Cachoo – Figures to be the speed of the speed in here; Victor Espinosa plays catch me if you can.

Long Shot – 5 Job Boss

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

4 Red Tesla – Bob Baffert doesn’t claim many any more, this is one of them; has shown nice, steady improvement.

3 Dancing Vodeler – Starting to get long in the tooth, but can compete with these; reunited with Joel Rosario.

Long Shot – 8 Ashen

Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $55,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

4 Jet Blue Girl – In a race this even, the jockey will have a larger influence; vote for Rafael Bejarano.

3 Ninth Infantry – Tepid chalk in a very well-matched group; she has won 3-of-4 so is in top form now.

Long Shot – 1 Warren’s Jitterbug

Race 4 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

8 Gotham Spirit – Fresh flesh hasn’t run in 8 months since Oak Tree; will need some pace to do her best.

3 Forty Dates – Beaten favorite in last 3-of-4 starts; she won’t find a softer spot than this to win a race.

Long Shot – 1 Guilded Reward

Race 5 – 7 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Hotstepper – Bob Baffert cull making his second lifetime start; got an obvious test drive first time out.

2 Bay Rush – Has run two good races since adding blinkers on; knocking on the door for graduation day.

Long Shot – 6 Detective Poirot

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

1 Guest Star – Could see a positive pace scenario to close into; going 2 turns for the very first time.

6 Lemou – Has a tendency to run rank, so off come the blinkers; Rafael Bejarano will try to rate him.

Long Shot – 5 Bellingham

Race 7 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Desert Flight – Leap of faith that Mike Mitchell magic will strike again; sliding down the claiming ladder.

3 Kahlua Mist – Given a brief rest after winning two straight at Santa Anita; she has found a home with these kind.

Long Shot – 1 Dubai Macau Girl

Race 8 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 10 feet), $70,000 Redondo Beach, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Lilly Fa Pootz – Among many seeking class relief and a confidence-building win; flattered by Dubawi Heights.

5 Wild Mia – Interesting shipper from Tom Proctor; can be a barometer of where the better turf fillies are.

Long Shot – 6 Tanda

Race 9 – 5 furlongs, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

4 Change Order – Gary Sherluck has popped some babies first time out; no shock if this one runs spitting fire.

8 Huntsville – Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; you’ll have an edge on me in seeing the tote board activity.

Long Shot – 3 Dutch Lake

Best Bet – 4 Red Tesla (race 2)

Hollywood Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/4/$18.20; Long Shots, 9/3/$37.20; Best Bet, 1/1/$2.80

Hollywood Park Totals – 478/119/$806.40; Long Shots, 230/43/$411.40; Best Bets, 27/10/$39.40

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 8 Hey Babe (7/2) in race 8 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Kilmore Quay ran out at Monmouth Park. Stats – 91/56/$440.90