Today at Hollywood Park: Dec. 14, 2013

TODAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK by Richard Eng

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 – 1 mile (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Warren’s Cracker – Was knocking on the door when seen last spring; returns with ace rider Rafael Bejarano up.

4 Lil Swiss Echo – Has shown turf ability albeit in sprints; should be able to handle a mile no problem with her pedigree.

Long Shot – 2 Coconut Cream Pie

Race 2 – 6 furlongs, Purse $48,000, Optional claiming $40,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Key Vista – Has ability for Bob Baffert, but lots of lengthy time gaps; will be a very short price, so tempers enthusiasm.

1 Mechaya – Bullet fast filly could not hold on late; somehow Rafael Bejarano has to nurse her energy so she’ll hang on late.

Long Shot – 5 Pearl de Vere

Race 3 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $48,000, Allowance, Cal-breds, 3-year-olds and up

6 Bro’s Bro – Has lost twice now in turf sprints by slim margins; wonder if Joe Talamo will try some change in tactics.

3 Free Time – Blinkers off could be what the doctor ordered; also takes off 5-pounds with the good bugboy Irving Orozco.

Long Shot – 2 Mr. Ornery

Race 4 – 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Maiden claiming $50,000, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds

7 Steppingood – Patrick Biancone claims one in a blue moon; suspect this baby has some latent talent that he can extract.

6 Scamalot – Tepid chalk in a wide open affair; key vote is from Rafael Bejarano as this guy hasn’t shown a whole lot so far.

Long Shot – 2 Fourth Generation

Race 5 – 1 1/16th miles (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $32,000, Starter allowance $40,000, 2-year-olds

2 Harbaugh – Suspect will be a short priced favorite; is stretching out in distance for the first time, but has ability.

5 Stop the Clock – NoCal shipper joins the Peter Miller barn for the first time; suspect he can improve this one another notch.

Long Shot – 7 Clouds Clearing

Race 6 – 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

13 Graduator – Filly must draw in from the AE list; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

6 Sugar High Kaylin – Ran OK in a well bet career debut; this is a wide open affair and I wouldn’t take a short price on anyone.

Long Shot – 1 Rich in Tradition

Race 7 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $25,000, Claiming $25,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Real Bright Boots – When horses are equal in ability, Rafael Bejarano can make the difference; tactical speed to sit a trip.

3 Horsesanddivorces – Blinkers off, dropping down to this level for Kristin Mulhall; will be a part of the action from the get go.

Long Shot – 2 Akiss Forarose

Race 8 – 6 furlongs, $100,000 Playa Del Rey, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Teddy’s Promise – No shame getting dusted in the BC F&M Sprint; softer group can provide the tonic for a nice win.

4 Rumor – She has a ton of back class but been out since July; one must question the multiple gaps in her resume, bad signal.

Long Shot – Minds Eyes

Race 9 – 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 10 feet), Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

2 Bourne Hot – Could top a very profitable night for Rafael Bejarano; wants to be leading rider of the final Hollywood meet.

10 Closet E – Claimed by Doug O’Neill off a promising second; small improvement could pay off in spades this evening.

Long Shot – 4 Home Run Kitten

Best Bet – 2 Teddy’s Promise (race 8)

Hollywood Park Saturday – Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 19/6/$34.80; Long Shots, 9/1/$8.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.60

Hollywood Park Totals – 380/101/$618.80; Long Shots, 183/32/$299.00; Best Bets, 20/8/$38.80

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY – #10 Biddy Martin (6/1) in race 6 at Aqueduct. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Zivo won at Aqueduct paying $4.90 to win, $3.00 to place and $2.40 to show. Stats – 194/131/$1,054.60; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick