SATURDAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK



JP'S GUSTO BY D. MORANT



COMMA TO THE TOP BY D. MORANT



Race 1    One Mile Turf Maiden Special  OFF

Assuming this is not taken off the turf....... Khendum the daughter of More Then Ready had to need her last race after a six month layoff. She will likely be on the pace. Most turf races are won down the stretch. Zohrah ridden by Joel Rosario will make the lead after a somewhat dull last race. She was the beaten favorite last time out. She is a contender to win this race. Mutually Benefit ran in front of Zohrah her last race. Any improvement will put her over the top in the winners circle. Do not just dismiss Irish Torrent who gets the rail and this is her second race after a short layoff. If she gets brave with some ground saving trip along the rail and gets a crack along the rail she has a closing kick to win this one.


Race 2    Seven Furlongs Maiden 25K

Wow...... When they make Warren's Wild Thing a 5 to 2 morning line favorite we all know this race is weak! This race is void of any speed types except Warren's Big Gold and maybe P-Val horse Regal Fever. The other contender might just be the 5 year old geldng Mikrokosmo. Any slight improvement puts him in the winners circle today.  As I said Warren's Wild Thing on his best day can close down the stretch. I picked him when he came to Del Mar dropping from a 40K maiden race. His odds that day was 35 to 1...... Today not even close to that. I have watch most all of his races and he is a plodder........ but maybe with the rain coming down and some racing luck and the speed melting down he might find himself leading at the wire. I would not quit my day job! The first time starter after looking at these entries looks better and better........Preferred Behavior. The jockey has been improving each and every day!



Race 3    Six Furlongs Maiden 32K

Portland gets off the rail which will make a major improvement in this race. She was chalk her last race. Joel Rosario seems fit to ride her again. If she runs back to her prior races then she is the one to fear! Her main rival is She'sawontontomato. The key for her today is the addition of blinkers. She has put together 2 solid works since her last dull race. Joe Talamo who has been hot rides. Diamond Jorney is the new face in town and catches a somewhat lackluster field. Gomez takes the mount for Brinkerhoff. The first time starter might just relish the soft footing today. She has the pedigree to win early so Love You So looks very live to me.  Beware of the dropper from maiden special weight with the pedigree of Salt Lake...a win early type for Barry Abrams. Martin Pedroza is one of the best getting these horses out of the gate fast.



Race 4    One Mile Sixteenth Optional Claimer OFF

Assuming this stays on the turf! Universal Peace will be well bet by the public. He had a traffic problems to say the least his last race. He was stopped and did not get thru till it was too late. He will be closing late so he does need some racing luck. A tough bunch of horses are in this race. Where's The Remote beat Universal Peace 4 raes back. He looked great in the Clement L. Hirsch when he got beat by Champ P. The distance is ideal here he cuts back in distance. I like him in this spot to win! Red Alert Day has back class but might need a race under his belt. But the trainers is a hall of framer and I will side with him. Contender! Achak might get a easy lead cutting back in distance. He gets a switch to the turf and this is a major drop in company after running 5th in the Native Diver. Hudson Landing a 3 year old gelding might just climb the class ladder today! Morey trains this gelding and Corey rides. Check out his race in the Will Rogers where he was just outkick but not by much. If he can settle down on the rail and have some racing luck he will be a horse to fear here!

 1. Hudson Landing


Race 5    Six Furlongs Starter Allowance

The pace might be Gnarly Dude and Basic Strategy dualing for the early lead. Dime can be on the lead or just sit right off the lead if he wants to. Chiloquin added blinkers and ran second that this very condition. A two year old colt and gelding race and there is not a horse in this field that on there best day can win this! Polly's Dancer took off the hood and won. He cuts back to six furlongs which seems ideal for this dude. Future Readings look good getting second to Gibson Home Run at Fairplex. If he runs back to that race .... a starter allowance....he can win!

  1. Gnarly Dude  2. Dime  3. Future Reading


 
Race 6    Six Half Furlongs Maiden Special

A fun race to watch..... Foreboding a son of Tiznow makes his debut with fast works for trainer Harty. Bob Baffert has Sinai........... Baffert is hitting at 25% with first time starters. He looks live a runner! Arousal the son of Malibu Moon must be respected having the edge in experience getting third in both starts. Check out Eric The Ram who is sib is Gato Go Win.......... Beware!! Mr. Commons has the pedigree to win early.....and of course Dreamy Kid has the pedigree to be in the mix. Yes It's True the sire of Brannigan looks live for Jack Van Berg and look who is riding for this barn. Joel Rosario rarely rides for Jack so that tells me he just might be a runner.

    1. Foreboding  2. Brannigan  3. Arousal

    Eric The Ram



Race 7    Five Half Furlongs Claimer 8K

This looks like a fast pace with a number of horses going for the lead. I like Forty Dates who is one for one in a off track. If the speed melts down I like a closer Too Pink! Watch out for Lost Prophet on the lead with Popular Date and Suances De Espana.

  1. Forty Dates   2. Too Pink



Race 8    Six Furlongs Optional Claimer

A wide open tough race! Hunch had to need his last race and if he is fit he is spotted for a win today! Mr Bossy Pant has beat Hunch before and he had to need his last race. I expect with a race under his belt he can win this....Yankee Station runs fresh...... so beware. Details R Sketchy smoked a good field of runners at Del Mar....... he can win this!

   1. Hunch  2. Yankee Station 3. Details R Sketchy

     The speed is the one on the rail!


Race 9    Cash Call Futurity

Come and Catch Comma To The Top!  My main conern is the outside post position. But if the track is wet he will be on the lead. He is not the only speed. Riveting Reason who just broke his maiden....... is a top contender! Clubhouse ride is the other horse that can sit off the pace. He will be overlooked by the public. J P's Gusto was not going to beat the star Uncle Mo. He is back on the west coast.........good morning line odds at 5 to 1......The horse that I fear is the Forty Niner colt.... Rustler Hustler........ has the pedigree to be special! Gourmet Dinner finds a field of speed and has the running style to close down the stetch. If the track is wet it might be too late for the closers to win. High Level Jeff has been training great for Doug O'Neil and JR takes over!  He is one for one in a off track. I will see how the track looks before I post my picks!


Race 10  Six Furlongs Claimer 12K

    Top contenders:   Pay For Play and M. Promise and Disliteliteomine........which gets Bejarano adds the blinkers.

Long Shot  Miss Edyta..... might come back running! included in late pick three