Horse Racing, Hollywood Park, 12/11/11

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

5 Russian River – Mike Mitchell has never been hotter than he is right now; will stalk the speed and attack in the lane.

1 Kiss My Swiss – Speedball draws the rail to do her thing; Joel Rosario should foresake cute and just gun this filly.

Long Shot – 2 Maya Angelina

Race 2 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $24,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds

6 Mentidoso – Hasn’t necessarily improved off the claim by Jack Carava; the key is the class drop into friendly company.

4 Edgewick Road – Claimed by Jorge Periban; he got off poorly in last and then came flying home, danger with good start.

Long Shot – 5 Orbach

Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies and weights, 3-year-olds and up

1 Heidi Maria – She is 7-of-11 in the money, but has a herd mentality; saves all the ground, may inherit the lead.

6 Let’s Go Cheyenne – Logical chalk showed good speed in last two races; might come in handy with the turf rail out 15 feet.

Long Shot – 4 Roxanne O

Race 4 – 1 1/16ths miles, Purse $30,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

1 Jairzihno – Could do a lot worse than keep picking Mike Mitchell horses; saves ground and grinds it out late.

6 Achak – Has been very useful despite changing barns frequently; has good tactical speed to sit a trip.

Long Shot – 4 They Call Him El

Race 5 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

2 Victory Cup – Big rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot; expect a rail trip and solid late finish.

8 Unstopper Topper – Could be a 2-horse race with a lot of slowpokes in this field; Chantal Sutherland will send early.

Long Shot – 6 Archie’s Way

Race 6 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

3 Sage d’Oro – Sure, why not pick a third Mike Mitchell runner on top; first time for the barn, expect improvement.

10 My Bashert – Stronger half of an uncoupled entry for Doug O’Neill; the other horse is #8 Belle Gallantey.

Long Shot – 5 Fluxx

Race 7 – 7 furlongs, Purse $56,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds

3 Indian Firewater – Has a lot of speed but has lost many nailbiters; the key is if Comma to the Top sends also.

2 Canonize – Picked a ridiculous spot to return off a year layoff; the race should do him wonders, expect much better.

Long Shot – 1 Skipshot

Race 8 – 7 1/2 furlongs, $80,000 Cat’s Cradle Handicap, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Excellent News – Bob Baffert has an uncoupled entry, this appears the stronger half; strong Hollywood resume too.

3 Tiz Flirtatious – Tepid favorite in the best betting race on the card; perfect in two starts, sacrificing experience.

Long Shot – 4 Chokecherymary

Race 9 – 7 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

8 Prized Fashion – Could not find a tougher, or uglier, race to finish the card; big class drop from MSW to maiden claiming.

4 Lovely Sophia – Been knocking on the door, but shows no urgency to graduate; poor start in last cost all chance.

Long Shot – 7 Highly Composed

Best Bet – 5 Russian River (race 1)

Hollywood Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 19/6/$33.00; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$6.00

Hollywood Park Totals – 326/96/$572.60; Long Shots, 162/21/$276.60; Best Bets, 20/9/$35.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #1 Exchange Funds (15/1) in race 10 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Live Every Day ran third at Tampa Bay paying $2.80 to show. Stats – 188/121/$959.40; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick