HORSE RACING
TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
By Richard Eng
Post Time 12:30 p.m.
Race 1 – 6 furlongs, Purse $25,000, Starter allowance $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Sportie’s Squeeze – Big rider switch to Gomez for the money shot; chance to stalk from the wide out and grind late.
Themis Valentine – Turf experiment didn’t work too well last time out; she returns to Cushion where she more effective.
Long Shot – Sea Driver
Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds
Warren’s Sillycat – Most experienced starter has shown the ability to close; will see a contested pace to do his best.
Kelli Cat Bird – Speedball taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to claiming; P Val has simple tactics to follow.
Long Shot – Almacita
Race 3 – 1 1/16th miles (turf), Purse $54,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up
Courtnall – Disappointing race last time after a strong Oak Tree Mile try two races back; can return to form facing these.
Perfect Casting – Beaten favorite at Aqueduct makes his SoCal debut; suspect there’s a lot more than what he’s shown us.
Long Shot – Yodelen Dan
Race 4 – 1 1/16th miles, Purse $44,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds
Zetterberg – Was scratched at the starting gate back on Nov. 10; both his races, if repeated, are fast enough to win.
Rhetorically – Beaten chalk gets a chance to redeem himself with Gomez aboard; will find a way to save ground from post 9.
Long Shot – Come in Almighty
Race 5 – 1 mile (turf), $100,000 Generous, 2-year-olds
Meer Kat – English invader gets to run first time with Lasix; has the pedigree to relish grass and the 2-turn distance.
Yes It’s a Cat – Speedy sort has proven he doesn’t need to lead to succeed; dead game in grass debut, winning a cat fight.
Long Shot – Spinning Sound
Race 6 – 6 furlongs, Purse $42,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up
Banner Lodge – Logical chalk off a decent debut facing tougher at Del Mar; Gomez is ending up with all the live ones.
Waveland Avenue – Named for the famous street that runs behind Wrigley Field; has shown enough to respect his chances.
Long Shot – Bullsbay
Race 7 – 6 furlongs (turf), Purse $45,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up
Pocosin’s Game Boy – Ran well from parking lot post 12 last time out; moves inside and should see a contested pace to chase.
Lit’sgoodlookngray – Taken by Pupye off a win verus high level claimers; Gomez figures to take him back and make one run.
Long Shot – Shootist
Race 8 – 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $28,000, Claiming $32,000, 3-year-olds and up
Jealous Profit – Dropped down to the class level he last won at; like the rider switch to main man Gomez, signals intent.
Wheaton Hall – Tepid chalk in a wide open sprint race; tactical speed for Tyler Baze to sit a perfect trip.
Long Shot – Make Mine Vodka
Race 9 – 1 1/16th miles (turf), $400,000 Citation Handicap, 3-year-olds and up
Proudinsky – Won a lot easier than it looked in last off a 1-year hiatus; highly regarded colt could have a big 2008 year.
Zann – Just missed last time as a square priced long shot; gets Gomez today so his price will be greatly reduced.
Long Shot – Palace Episode
Race 10 – 7 furlongs, Purse $14,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
Moteado – Like the turn back in distance from a 2-turn mile for this elongated sprint; Gomez takes over for the money shot.
Our Papa Joe – Horses run for Bejarano so he better use some magic on this one; sits midpack and tries to grind it out.
Long Shot – Cherokee Law
Best Bet – Moteado (race 10)
Hollywood Thursday- Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$22.20; Long Shots, 7/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/0/$0
Hollywood Totals – 196/41/$266.40; Long Shots, 98/15/$167.00; Best Bets, 12/4/$13.80
