Closing Day at Hollywood Park

UPDATE: Bank Started Sunday $6,174  I place $20 on a win and place ticket in the 4th race on Skyquickscore  ROI $192.  I place $20 to win and place on Luv Dragon in the 6th returned a  ROI  $92. I hit a Pick three in the 6th race which returned $165.00

                The Closing Bank $6431.90



                   Closing Day at the Lakes and Flowers
 

It's been Wonderful for me ......... and  fun and yes, exciting starting my blog.  I hope that my readers got some insight and valuable information about handicapping races. I hope my readers made some money reading my blog.  Thank you very much for visiting. Please see if you might take a moment and sign up and follow my blog.  I hope you come back on Wednesday and play Del Mar. The Hollywood Closing Bank is $ 6,174



Race 1            One Mile Turf Maiden Special Weight
Fashion Trend looks like her race with experience a tactical speed and a distance that is ideal for her. Graduation Day with a short price favorite is my pick. A side bar is the second time starter Madame Arabella who should love the turf  and I would not be surprise if she ran a respectable dance today in the opener. 

                1. Fashion Trend


Race 2            Six Half Furlong Claimer (8K)
A wide open affair with Saint's Crown who runs her best races when sent to the lead. If sent she is the speed of this race but she seems to get beat at the wire going this distance. Her last race she broke slowly and was steadied  so  you might want to excuse her last performance. Shine' n Time loses Victor but get Bejarano. The distance is ideal for this closer down the stretch. Princess Susan K seems to be off form but might wake up at this low level. Missoula has the highest speed figures of the field. Jr takes the call and is the one to fear down the lane. This Two Punch mare is in top form.
Her main rivals are on the outside post. Pretty Kinzie loves the cushion track and she is has put together some respectable races that make her a winner today. Pokomoke  is a horse that is hard to get a handle on it depending who shows up.  She does seem to fit better at this distance rather then racing over a mile.

   
                   1.Missoula 

Race 3            Six Half Furlong Claimer (20K)
A Hat trick maybe for Ida of March. Ron Ellis as you should know by now fire with horses coming off a lay off. She has been freshen up and now it looks like JR is Ron Ellis main man. This looks like a good betting race and in my opinion wide open. Yasuda claimed by Greenman and Mike Smith takes the call sends me signals that this might be a live one. She has not raced with horses of this level. But having said this she did win her first race at Golden Gate in a maiden special weight race. Blind Optimism looks like the speed in a race void of early speed. She shortens up in distance and Corey N has a chance to win his first race back for Doug O'Neil who is coming back today. Her main rival is Scratchthemoon who is looking for her second win at Hollywood.


              1. Blind Optimism  2. Scratchthemoon
           

Race 4            One Mile Sixteenth Turf Claimer (25K)
 Diplo drops to 25k after running a somewhat excuse free dull last race at 32k on this turf course. Jacob's Tiger was sent to the lead his last race and that was not his style. He does his best racing coming off the pace. He is a contender if he incorporates this running style. I have been wondering when Melvin would put Sky'quickscore on turf in a race that lacks any real factions on the lead. Victor might just send his horse to the lead but the distance seems to be dangerous for a speed horse to hold it all together. I wish the distance would have been a mile period.  A small value bet for her to hit the board today!

                       1. Sky'quickscore to hit the board

                        Pick three
                        4th  1,4,5,6
                        5th  1,3,4,8
                        6th  7           Cost of ticket $18

                        $20 Win Place on 1 
                        $ROI $192



Race 5            Six Half Maiden (40K)

 Big Burly Boy the likely favorite showed his hand his last race. Tab the switch from Bisono to Bejarano might just seal the deal. Alley Hondro second race after a lay off gives us hope for improvement. A Swiss Yodeler kid Hi Card Gambler has fairly strong work out tab and might just come out running. Sea Viper is a horse that might just surprise the tote board.


                 1. Big Burly Boy 2.Hi Card Gambler 3.Sea Viper

 
Race 6            One Mile Sixteenth Claimer (12K)
I can envision the whole field in a calvary charge down the stretch with Atticus Pomponius in the lead. "Come catch him." Joy Scott's mound will show some speed with Ol'dogtown. Wolfgang drops into a restricted non winners of two.  He takes the blinkers off and the best signal is that Mike Smith keeps the mount. Sovereign Lord has faced tougher but look at his stats! Pass! Trulymetsmydaddy missed by a nose at this level and fits as a contender. Luv Dragon has faced tougher and his maiden race has somewhat slow speed numbers. But 3 horses that came out of that race and won.  I have a hunch he will give a better performance today facing this group.

            1. Luv Dragon 2. Wolfgang  3.Trulymetsmydaddy

        $20 Win and Place 7 

         ROI $92+ Pick three $ 165.90 = $257.90


Race 7             Five Furlongs Maiden Special Weight

A blue Blood and  I have always followed the pedigree of Smart Strike. I remember Bob Baffert colt by Smart Strike last year and his name was Lookin at Lucky.  That is big shoes to step into but Smash trained by Baffert makes his career debut today in this baby race at five furlongs. A Doughboy has the racing edge with 2 starts and only missed by 2 behind Western Mood.  Mckenzie's Way a first time starter by the sire of Wildcat Heir hits at 24% with debut starters.

                1. Smash  2. Doughboy  3. Mckenzie's Way


Race 8             Seven Furlongs Allowance
Syncobeat exits a key maiden race in which Lori Red won next time out. The pace scenario might unfold with  J.P. Jammer, Syncobeat and Wyle n Wyatt each battling for the lead. Seven furlongs is a ideal distance for a speed meltdown. Scofield Barracks a head case at the gate got struck behind horses last race and finished full of run. He needs to break cleanly and should relish the extra distance today.
 The Bat Signal lost distance in the same race and lost by a nose. He is in top form and Bejarano takes the call.

                1. Scofield Barracks.  2. The Bat Signal




 Race 9            Sunset H

Marlang appears to be the speed in a well-matched field of seven going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Lone speed with JR up in the irons will send and say " Come and catch me in you can." Buenos Dias finally won a optional claimer allowance race in this country. Brice Blanc takes the call. Dynamic Range by Dynaformer was claimed going 12 furlongs on the Hollywood Turf.  Mike Mitchell is hitting 30% off the claim next time out a unreal number.  Please do not take this horse lightly. He sports a strong work tab and Bejarano takes the call.
Corey Nakatani picks up the mount Unusual Suspect a horse that has not won since Del Mar but has finished hitting the board in some quality turf races. This spot today might be the field more to his style.  This appears to me to be a step down in class for him today. Champ Pegasus a lightly raced four year old is making his first stakes bow in this spot. He seems to relish the Hollywood turf. The Richard Mandella trainee has won his last two races and enters this race ready and fit to win a Black- Type competition  for the first time. Great Siege has yet to race beyond 1 1/8 miles.

           1. Marlang  2. Champ Pegasus  3. Unusual Suspect


Race 10          Six Half Maiden (25K)
It looks to me  three tops contenders in the final race closing day for the bottom dwellers. Make it Mine has been a money pit but has tactical speed and gets the leading rider JR.  Han Moon might just train a horse which would give the first win to Corey if he did not win the 3rd race today.   Meadow Lake Queen adds blinkers and is coming off a lay off with strong works....Beware!   Joint Adventure which had to need his last race  Ellis retains the bug boy with weight off is a contender in a field with many pretenders.


                   1. Meadow Lake Queen


HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (7/15)
4TH -- We tabbed LYONS BARTON (Lion Heart) after his last and the chestnut came through for us at a decent price for conditioner Gary Stute. The sophomore could have a few more wins in his holster after looking the part in this wire-to-wire turf score.
5TH -- A Z WARRIOR (Bernardini) followed up her half-sibling's debut win on July 10 with one of her own for conditioner Bob Baffert. The impressive juvenile filly could be any kind and is clearly cut out to be very good early in her career.
Friday (7/16)
4TH -- TEAFATILLER (In Excess [Ire]) beat a solid group in here for fun while completing his final five-sixteenths in :29 2/5, so we will surely keep an eye on the improving Bruce Jackson trainee.
5TH -- AEROMON (Maria's Mon) is always close but seemingly can't close the deal, so we're curious to know if the gelding will be a career maiden. The sophomore had no excuses in here with Bejarano.
Saturday (7/17)
2ND -- TEDDY'S PROMISE (Salt Lake) was clearly second best in her debut showing for trainer David Hofmans and should be a live one next out.
5TH -- LORO (El Corredor) had a slow pace at which to close into and could do no better than fourth in here, but the sophomore will remain on our radar for his next test. He could appreciate more ground, too.
Sunday (7/18)
7TH -- Baffert unveiled another good-looking juvenile at the meeting in debut winner SMASH (Smart Strike) in here, who powered home impressively under Martin Garcia. The well-bred colt could be any type and has the pedigree to handle a route of ground -- he could be the next star from this barn!