HORSE RACING

By Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds

1 Bertran Hill – Dead-late closer is sliding down the claiming ladder; meet leading rider Joel Rosario gets icing on the cake.

4 Elusive Moment – Won last out now moving up the claiming ladder; P Val replacing Felipe Valdez who is out injured indefinitely.

Long Shot – 5 Peacock Alliance

Race 2 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $13,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

3 Steve’s Blue Sky – Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Neil French adding blinkers on too.

2 Kiss My Swiss – It only seems like Joel Rosario can win every race today; subbing for P Val who opted to ride the chalk.

Long Shot – 8 Truckee Thrust

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

3 Bimbo Magic – Claimed off a win by the maestro Jerry Hollendorfer; tactical speed to sit a perfect trip.

1 Living Our Dream – Huge return in first start off an 8-month hiatus; has enough back class where maybe she won’t bounce.

Long Shot – 4 Sweetsouthernqueen

Race 4 – 7 furlongs, Purse $11,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

8 Big Revolution – Looks like he’s shooting fish in a barrel here; Peter Miller concluding a fabulous meet.

4 K K’s Bro – If anyone can upset it might be this guy; nearly all of the others in the field aren’t fast enough.

Long Shot – 5 Thecatcheckraised

Race 5 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $40,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Solar Rocket – Speedball exits a key race at Churchill that will be very productive; second start off a 10-month hiatus.

2 Scofield Barracks – Dead-late closer didn’t do much closing in last; he’s pretty consistent and figures to rebound in here.

Long Shot – 5 Korban

Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

10 Gonelikeahurricane – John Shirreffs rarely cranks up a FTS; thus her third in debut was a good sign, figures to improve today.

9 Miss Sea Cup – FTS from Paddy Gallagher who seldom pushes his babies; like that Joel Rosario thought enough to take the call.

Long Shot – 4 Magicallytown

Race 7 – 1 mile (turf), Purse $22,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Lucky Fitz – Tiny edge in a difficult heat; his one lousy turf try will clearly make him a throwout for most.

3 Tale of the Bat – Tepid chalk in a wide-open affair; sharp maiden claiming win must be repeated to have any chance.

Long Shot – 6 Marino’s Star

Race 8 – 7 1/2 furlongs, $75,000 On Trust Handicap, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

7 The Bat Signal – May benefit from a hotly contested early pace; Joe Talamo figures to sit in arrears and make one brush.

4 Earnednevergiven – Upset winner in last is equally good on turf or synthetics; tactical speed to lead or sit close up.

Long Shot – 5 Amazombie

Race 9 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 2-year-olds

6 Cat in the Forest – Was well bet in debut, then didn’t run a step; been away 7 months, returns with P Val up.

Long Shot – This is the last race of the meeting; Santa Anita opens on Dec. 26, until then have a very Merry Christmas!

Best Bet – 3 Solar Rocket (race 5)

Hollywood Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/5/$27.80; Long Shots, 9/2/$12.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Totals – 466/139/$784.20; Long Shots, 236/38/$377.40; Best Bets, 28/15/$51.40

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY – 10 Showmanship (15/1) in race 10 at Parx Racing. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Conchacer won at Tampa Bay Downs paying $3.80 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Stats – 207/148/$1,146.60