Hat trick for Tyler Baze. Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair. Doug O’Neill saddled two winners on Friday night.

Saturday (11-22-08) Hollywood Park recap

Edge to early/pressing types on both surfaces.

Four bagger for Garrett Gomez. John Sadler saddled a pair of winners on the card.

Johnny Eves got back on the beam with a gritty stalk and pounce tally in the Grade 3 Underwood. Bob Black Jack needed the outing as expected. Six furlongs in 1:07.90.

Sunday (11-23-08) Hollywood Park preview

Sunday’s 9-race card features the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue and includes a Super High 5 carryover of $55,778 (race 9).

My MySpace free selection of the day is the 4th race from Hollywood Park.

The 8th race, the aforementioned Hollywood Prevue, is featured below.

Hollywood Park race 8 (Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue, 2yo, 7f)

(1) Jack O’ Lantern (15-1) – Added blinkers and won smartly in high end maiden claimer last time.

(2) Backbackbackgone (2-1) – Speedy sort tries to go 4-4. Win margins shrinking as distances increase.

(3) Azul Leon (9-5) – The class play is 2-2 at Hollywood.

(4) Ventana (4-1) – Showed talent in Belmont bow. Off his game in last pair but training very well for this.

(5) Congor Bay (6-1) – Undefeated (2-2) Woodbine shipper owns fine tactical speed.

(6) Arashi Cat (5-1) – $200k Fusaichi Pegasus-Storm Cat colt earned improved fig 2nd time out.

Analysis: This Cushion Track sprint distance has favored stalkers from inner posts. Backbackbackgone is the one to reel in but might not want to go this far. Azul Leon might end up with too much to do. Ventana is the one that intrigues. He was ultra-impressive in bow, and he experienced a troubled start when thrown to the wolves 2nd time out in the Champagne (G1). He got acclimated to synthetic versus similar last out, and he’s ready to rumble based on recent morning activity. An alert beginning might be all it takes for Baffert’s $410k purchase.

The $20 Play:

Daily Wager recap

Friday night (11-21-08): Ransom Captive ($9.60) got the job done. Suggested $14 win bet brought back $67.20.

Saturday (11-22-08): Johnny Eves ($9.00) kept the streak going. Suggested $8 win bet returned $36.00.

Overall: (-66.40) through 19 days of the Hollywood Park fall meet.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Zenyatta ran her record to 6-6 in the Grade 1 Vanity, although she was not nearly as impressive this time around. She made her customary late run to seize the lead but failed to pull away from gritty synthetic specialist Tough Tiz’s Sis. This was the second time the Baffert trainee gave Zenyatta a bit of a challenge. Silver Z opened up a huge early lead and weakened to 4th. Winning trainer John Sadler remains uncommitted about Zenyatta’s next start.

Diamond Diva came again to nostrilize Ventura in a thrilling renewal of the Grade 2 CashCall Mile. 3-2 fav Lady of Venice rallied to finish a non-threatening 3rd. The winning James Cassidy trainee might run next in the John C. Mabee at Del Mar.

Pure Clan kept her perfect turf record intact with a smart and well-timed off the pace rally under Julien Leparoux in the Grade 1 American Oaks. Great effort by French invader Satan’s Circus to nail down the place at 14-1. The winning Bob Holthus runner might make a return trip to SoCal for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on August 16th.

Street Boss garnered his 2nd straight stakes tally as he continued his rapid rise in the graded sprint ranks with a sharp off the pace triumph in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap at 7f. This extended sprint distance is not his best, and Bruce Headley’s synthetic lover figures cut back to 6f as he prepares for a possible start in the Grade 1 BC Sprint in October.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever