Horse Racing, Hollywood Park, 11/24/11

Post Time 11 a.m.

Race 1 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds

4 Cat in the Forest – Just missed in last, now is dropped in class; contender in a wide open affair.

3 Deluxe Bus – Poor effort first off the claim for Bob Hess; huge drop in class affords a chance.

Long Shot – 5 Mentidoso

Race 2 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

6 Clearly a Cowboy – Did everything but win last time out; Mike Pupye taking the blinkers off for this.

2 Frenemy – Was flattered when Basmati ran well in the Delta Jackpot; no such monsters in here.

Long Shot – 3 Treacherous

Race 3 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 20 feet), Purse $37,000, Claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

7 Muny – Mike Mitchell has an uncoupled entry and he looks to have the field surrounded; main hindrance is the post.

3 Quietly Mine – His best races come in this $40K class; will sit a trip and come running at the end.

Long Shot – 1 Lt. Hopeful

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

4 Teacher Teacher – Has chased two big fillies in both career starts; chance to dominate with one step improvement.

7 Raven Wild – Flattered when Evasive Charmer won next out; Ron Ellis babies will improve with experience.

Long Shot – Clean Break

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

5 Ambitoness – Solis 2-turn effort facing a veteran group in last; she is a hard tryer which accounts for a lot.

2 Star Presence – Sight unseen since February; is training average for return, which is a real upset for Bob Baffert.

Long Shot – 4 True Way of Grace

Race 6 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

6 Finegan Again – Joe Talamo had options and landed here for Gary Sherluck; adding blinkers on tonight.

4 Go to the Pulpit – Tepid chalk picks up Garrett Gomez, a nice sub; expect a strong finish in the lane late.

Long Shot – 5 The Black

Race 7 – 7 furlongs, $100,000 Hollywood Prevue, 2-year-olds

4 Empire Way – Will not see a horse win by a half length any easier; bred to relish a marathon distance.

6 So Brilliant – Was a tiger in winning debut for Bob Baffert; he will be the target again in this elongated sprint.

Long Shot – 7 Galex

Race 8 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $18,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

8 Geniality – Tried to overcome a parking lot post in last to no avail; should be better for the experience today.

4 Somenchantd Evenin – Solid second last time in a career topper; repeat race may be fast enough to upset these.

Long Shot – 5 Warren’s Hopeful

Best Bet – 4 Empire Way (race 7)

Hollywood Park Sunday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 12/3/$24.40; Long Shots, 6/1/$8.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Hollywood Park Totals – 126/40/$253.00; Long Shots, 64/6/$57.20; Best Bets, 8/4/$13.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #9 Race to Urga (2/1) in race 5 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Groomedforvictory won at Aqueduct paying $5.40 to win, $3.30 to place and $2.30 to show. Stats – 179/116/$926.20. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick