Things are little different at Hollywood Park this week thanks to the upcoming July 4th holiday on Friday. Night racing has been moved to Thursday while the Friday card will feature an afternoon post time. We’ve got 8 races this evening as you get ready for your holiday tomorrow.
Race 1: Md 4000 (5 1/2 Furlongs)
- #5Albacare Bob (3/1*)
- #8 Seven Lucky J’s (4/1)
- #4 It’s in the Fridge (5/1)
We start off with 2-year-old maiden claimers going 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Albacre Bob appears to have the top form of the field having faced better in his last effort while hanging on for place. Seven Lucky J’s takes the biggest class drop of the field from the Md Sp Wt ranks and adds blinkers to the mix tonight. The son of Tapit wouldn’t need to have a ton of talent to prevail here, and perhaps we didn’t see all this guy is made of in that debut? It’s in the Fridge looks like a dangerous first time starter for trainer Peter Miller. The son of Smooth Jazz gets Corey Nakatani as pilot for tonight’s trip. Can’t say I’d be surprised if he stole the opener. Of the others Fil’s Regent looks useful underneath when filling out the trifecta.
Race 2: F- Alw 51000 N1X (6 Furlongs - Turf)
- #4 Christiana’s Heat (5/2)
- #6 Bea’s Cee (2/1*)
- #1 America’s Friend (4/1)
Looks like a tough state-bred conditional allowance race in tonight’s second on the card. We’re turf sprinting here - 6 furlongs. I opted with Christiana’s Heat as top selection because she has a bit more experience on the grass. The daughter of Unusual Heat was nosed at the wire going a mile against state-breds last out, but has run well at these conditions as well. Bea’s Cee should take to the grass being a daughter of Cee’s Tizzy. If she runs anything like that maiden score last out she’ll be in the winner’s circle tonight. America’s Friend has been close in back-to-back show finishes against slightly better. All it will take is a half-step forward for her to prevail.
Race 3: Md 25000 (1 1/16 Miles)
- #7 Sir Dynamite (5/1)
- #9 Bob Benoit (5/2*)
- #10 Most Decorated (3/1)
We’re back to maiden claimers in the third race - this time 3-year-olds and upward. Sir Dynamite is a son of Dynaformer that showed some ability last out in his first route on the main track. I like the direction this guy appears headed. Bob Benoit will be the likely post time favorite, but he didn’t quite fire in his first effort at this level after dropping in from the special weights. I’d be wary of taking him at too short a price as he could be a money burner. Most Decorated looks like a threat from a Beyer standpoint alone. Note that two of his last three efforts have been within a length. Tonight could be his night to shine. Of the others, Easter Burn along the rail looks useful in the single race exotics.
Race 4: Clm 8000
- #9 Caddymaster (7/2)
- #3 Preachintothechoir (3/1)
- #1 Corvinus (5/1)
A bottom rock claimer winds up the early pick 4. Caddymaster should be the one to beat here. He didn’t quite get the job done when first dropped to this level, but perhaps he needed that race? Preachintothechoir should be a part of things from the get-go and will probably be on the gas early. This seems to be his most effective distance. Corvinus is a horse that just needs a few lucky breaks. Take a look at those last 4 races. They were all darn near good enough for wins, yet only one of them worked out in his favor. I wouldn’t count him out today as I thought Bewitching Bartok and King Palm were dangerous contenders for him to face last out.
Race 5: The Ferdinand Handicap $75k (1 1/16 Miles)
- #3 Lang Field (4/1)
- #6 Dilemma (2/1*)
- #4Charmo ((5/1)
The feature race of the evening is the inaugural running of the $75k Ferdinand Handicap. I really like Langfield’s chances to wire the field in this one. He should get an essentially uncontested lead early on with the favorite, Dilemma just behind him waiting to pounce. The race will likely be decided by these two in the stretch. Charmo looks interesting to me underneath or as a possible thief. He’s faced better in recent efforts, that much is certain. Only problem is that he’ll be closing into what looks like a lone speed race. I’ll say he’s good enough to get up into the exacta or trifecta underneath. Of the others, I think Tissy Fit has some of the better recent synthetic form and could also wind up in the trifecta.
Race 6:F-Md 25000 (6 Furlongs)
- #4 Dreams Afleet (5/2*)
- #3 Dance to My Lou (15/1)
- #6 Warren’s Dreaming (12/10
Back to maiden claimers we go , this time fillies and mares 3 and up. Dreams Afleet looks to be rounding into form quite nicely for this level. Another step forward today is highly possible for the daughter of Northern Afleet. Dance to My Lou is listed at 15/1 in the morning line. That’s a huge mistake at this level for a daughter of Benchmark (Alydar) in my opinion. Likewise, Warren’s Dreaming looks like had a decent debut and could stand to move forward today. I wouldn’t toss out Serpetineserpetine either as his early zip will have him involved from the start.
Race 7: OC 62k/N2X (6 Furlongs - Turf)
- #5 Run Bob and Dave ((9/5*)
- #4 Within Reason (4/1)
- #1 Tain’t War Sir (6/1)
Run Bob and Dave looks like the horse you’ve got to beat to make the late pick 4 a good one. I just didn’t think it was likely. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. Someone’s going to have to go get him early on if they are to defeat him. WIthin Reason has a chance of doing exactly that or perhaps sitting just off the leader. I thought Tain’tWar Sir was eligible to be cleaning up whatever was left down the stretch. Dakota Padre also looks useful underneath in the trifecta.
Race 8: Md 25000 (1 1/16 Miles)
- #7 Khun Dun (5/1)
- #5 Athenry (5/2*)
- #8 Huss the King (6/1)
We wind up with more maiden claimers - this time routing on the main track. KhunDun looks very useful to me here dropping in class with two good recent workouts. If he can get a solid trip he could really move forward here today. Athenry is the favorite based on the last 3 races - all of which are likely good enough to win tonight. Still, this one could be a winner or could be a perennial maiden exactafiller. You just never know with these types. Huss the King continues to class drop and may have found the right level here. He’ll need to break better than he has in his last 2 races to contend, but jockey Joe Talamoshould help with that.
Best of luck to all. As always, be sure to check for late changes and scratches.
I’ve never been to the American races but I’m looking forward to going along with some showjumping friends to the Kentucky 2010 World Championships. I wonder how the hurdle and flat compare with racing over here. I was told that US horses are allowed steroids?
Mindy,
The racing in the U.S. differst greatly from that in Europe in that there’s an abundance of shorter dirt or synthetic races and not as many longer routes - especially on turf. Steroids are allowed in many juristictions - but each state has it’s own rules. That’s one of the biggest problems the NTRA faces over here when trying to implement sweeping changes. I’m guessing we’ll see a ban on most medications sooner rather than later though. Just a hunch- this seems to be getting quite a bit of publicity/discussion in recent months.