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Saturday (May 31st) analysis from Hollywood Park

by Jarrod Horak on May 30th, 2008

Below is my Saturday analysis from Hollywood Park, complete with betting strategies.

Hollywood Park analysis (Saturday, May 31, 2008)

by Jarrod Horak (racingonthenet.com, thoroughbredfever.com)

HOL 1 (Mcl-25k, f&m 3up, 8.5f) Number 7 Afternoon Gold (4-1) exits an even 4th in a local sprint versus $40k stock. She drops to the bottom of the maiden rung and stretches back out. There is not much pace signed on, and I think she has found a nice graduation spot. The Plays: Number 7 to win, Superfecta 7/1-3/1-2-3-6/all

HOL 2 (Manhattan Beach, 3yo fil, 6T) Number 1 Mini Do (3-1) showed me something by coming from off the pace to score in her 1st start versus winners, and the place finisher returned to score. Baze/Canani shoot for the hat trick with the improving early/pressing sort, who breaks from the advantageous 19% rail post. Number 2 Starry Pursuit (7-5) is 3-3 around one-turn, including a pair of turf sprint tallies. Prominent throughout at low odds. Number 3 Silent Kitten (7-2) has won two straight since Sadler took over the training duties. Harlan’s Holiday is a promising young turf sire, and Bejarano strings along. She needs some help up front. The Plays: Number 1 to win, Straight Trifecta 1-2-3

HOL 3 (Alw-2x, 3up, 6.5f) Number 3 Within Reason (5-2) should wire these. He exits a strong place finish versus similar local foes, and the sharp 3-9 gelding sports the best overall pace figs. Number 2 Major Pleasure (2-1) always takes action and was a determined winner in his local sprint comeback. I like the looks of his steady five furlong maintenance drill on May 25th. The Plays: Number 3 to win, Exacta 3-2

HOL 4 (MSW, f&m 3up, 9T) My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

HOL 5 (Grade 2 Milady Hcp, f&m 3up, 8.5f) Number 6 Zenyatta (4-5) has done nothing wrong in four facile tallies to kick off her career. She was last seen tearing up a good field in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, and no less than four of her rivals from that event have come back to claim their next starts. Another low odds off the pace score is anticipated. I’ll tab Number 7 Double Trouble (8-1) for a 2nd place finish. Consistent miss is a grade one synthetic winner and clearly does her best work between 8-8.5 furlongs. Number 4 Romance Is Diane (4-1) is a two-time graded winner at Hollywood. She can fire a fresh shot and owns versatility. The Plays: Exacta 6-7

HOL 6 (MSW, f&m 3up, 6f) Number 3 Sleepin In (3-1) showed some ability in her turf sprint bow, and Koriner is an impressive 32% with 2nd timers. Five-year-old miss looms a prominent throughout player under Bejarano. Number 8 Scout About (5-2) dumped Solis following a stretch spill as the fav last time, and the veteran rider climbs back aboard the unlucky miss. She has shown some late running ability for the competent Dan Hendricks, and she only needs clear sailing to compete for the win today. The Plays: Number 3 to win, Exacta box 3-8

HOL 7 (Clm-40k, f&m 4up, 6T) My MySpace free selection of the day.

HOL 8 (Grade 2 Californian, 3up, 9f) A compact field for the local Hollywood Gold Cup prep, and Number 5 Albertus Maximus (3-1) might steal this one. Improving sort placed in a couple of graded three-year-old events last year, then went to the bench after tailing off in the Pacific Classic. He was benched again after a below par effort 3+ months later, and he showed some signs of life in his 2008 sprint return. Last time, he seized command and rolled to an easy allowance route tally, and this is a prime spot to return to the graded ranks. Number 1 Heatseeker (8-5) is clearly a synthetic specialist, and there was nothing wrong with his head defeat at Oaklawn last time. I have always liked this one, even when Frankel had him, and especially after he got the job done for me at 30-1 in the Native Diver. I just want to see a solid 1-2 finish to set him up for the Gold Cup in four weeks. Number 4 Surf Cat (5-2) consistently runs his race at a variety of distances on dirt/synthetic, but his numbers were better on conventional dirt. Number 2 Taigo (2-1) could be compromised by a lack of pace, and he has lost his last three synthetic starts. He exits a solid Oaklawn Handicap tally and did win a graded race here last summer. The Plays: Number 5 to win, Exacta box 1-5

HOL 9 (Clm-20k, 4up, 6f) Number 3 World War (9-2) drops below his claimed price, but that is not a negative angle for Mitchell. Bejarano strings along, and he is 5-15 with this barn recently. Number 11 Indian Weaver (20-1) receives a subtle rider upgrade to Campos, who rides this one well. Gelding does not win many anymore but is frequently a value-oriented exotics threat. He has a habit of landing the place at this distance, and I’ll key him accordingly. Number 13 Common Trust (7-2) was nabbed out of his last by Spawr, and the consistent gelding was in good form for Mullins prior to the claim. The Plays: Number 3 to win, Quinella 3-13, Exacta 3-13/11

Photo Credit: Newscom

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POSTED IN: California Racing, Handicapping, Horses, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Synthetic Tracks