Saturday (12-20-08) Hollywood Park recap
Edge to early/pressing types on Cushion Track. Both turf races were taken in wire-to-wire fashion. Five wins from inside post.
Martin Pedroza booted home a pair.
My 5-1 top Gambler’s Justice almost stole the $75k Cat’s Cradle, but Bai And Bai and Spenditallbaby crept past her late.
Pioneerof the Nile (Garrett Gomez/Bob Baffert) showed improved postional speed and eeked out a nose victory in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. I stated that I Want Revenge was one to keep an eye on down the road, but he had his mind on running here and now. …read more

Friday (12-19-08) Hollywood Park recap
Edge to stalk and pounce types on Cushion Track.
Hat trick for leading rider Rafael Bejarano. Delgadillo and Solis both booted home a pair.
Miss Singhsix took advantage of a pace battle between Caramel Coffee (2nd best) and Sheza Maneater to post a solid 1-3/4 length tally in the optional claiming feature.

Saturday (12-20-08) Hollywood Park preview
Saturday’s 10-race card is highlighted by the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity (featured below).
The 5th race, the $75k Cat’s Cradle Handicap, is my Myspace free selection of the day.

Hollywood Park race 8 (Grade 1 CashCall Futurity, 2yo, 8.5f)
(1) Azul …read more

Thursday (12-18-08) Hollywood Park recap
Cushion Track played fair.
Joel Rosario booted home the early double.
A couple of horses rolled to easy wire jobs in races originally scheduled for the turf…Haka (Gomez/Clement) in the 5th and Victory Pete (Barba/Smith) in the featured 7th.
Friday (12-19-08) Hollywood Park preview
Friday’s 8-race card features a compact but competitive optional claiming feature. Sheza Maneater (4-1) figures to offer a hint of vaule for Bob Baffert.
The 5th race, an entry level turf sprint, is featured below.

Hollywood Park race 5 (Alw-1x, f&m 3up, 6T)
(1) Lt. Chelsea (20-1) – Nothing to show for a trio …read more

Wednesday (12-17-08) Hollywood Park recap
Four wire jobs on Cushion Track. The lone turf sprint was taken off the turf.
Martin Pedroza and Joel Rosario both booted home a pair. Long day for Rafael Bejarano as he lost five times on well-back horses. Doug O’Neill saddled two winners on the card.
One Track Mind (race 7) controlled proceedings throughout in a good looking optional claiming route wire job.
Thursday (12-18-08) Hollywood Park preview
Thursday’s 8-race card includes a Pick 6 carryover of $75,502.
The 5th race (featured below), originally scheduled for turf, will be run at 8.5f on Cushion Track.
Hollywood Park …read more

Sunday (12-14-08) Hollywood Park recap
Early/pressing types dominated on Cushion Track. The lone turf sprint carded was taken by a stalker.
Four-bagger for Rafael Bejarano. Michael Baze booted home a pair.
Star Nicholas (drifted in) outfinished Partywithlarry Z (stretch traffic) to nab to the $75k On Trust Handicap. Post time favorite Dancing In Silks set a pressured pace and finished a solid 3rd.

Wednesday (12-17-08) Hollywood Park preview
Wednesday’s 8-race card looks a bit chalky, but there is some value to be had in a few races.
Race 1: One Vote (7-5) looms the controlling speed at low odds under …read more

Saturday (12-13-08) Hollywood Park recap
Early/pressing types dominated on both surfaces.
Hat trick for Joel Rosario.
Laragh grabbed the early lead as expected. She turned back a few backstretch challengers before gamely prevailing by a length in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet. Edgar Prado rode the turf/synthetic specialist for John Terranova II.
Sunday (12-14-08) Hollywood Park preview
Sunday’s 9-race card features the $75k On Trust Handicap, to be contested at the unusual distance of seven and one-half furlongs on Cushion Track. Likely favorite Dancing in Silks was last seen finishing 2nd behind Into Mischief in the Damascus at Oak Tree.
The …read more

Friday (12-12-08) Hollywood Park recap
Edge to early/pressing types on Cushion Track. Turf course favored stalkers.
Hat trick for Rafael Bejarano. Martin Garcia booted home a pair, and Doug O’Neill saddled two winners on the card.
Informed (Gryder/O’Neill) came again to gamely nab the optional claiming Cushion Track feature by 1/12 lengths. The son of Tiznow ran 8.5f in 1:41.53 and paid $7.00 as the 2nd betting choice.

Saturday (12-13-08) Hollywood Park preview
Saturday’s 10-race card features the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $85,503.
Laragh is the one to catch and beat in the …read more

Thursday (12-11-08) Hollywood Park recap
Edge to stalking types on Cushion Track. The lone turf race carded was won by an off the pace type.
Joel Rosario and Joe Talamo both booted home a pair.
Serra Song got the job done by a head as the even money fav in the feature race for the profitable Espinoza/Mandella team. Lucky Honey (Bejarano/Mitchell) ran too good to lose while well clear of the rest.

Friday (12-12-08) Hollywood Park preview
Friday’s 8-race card includes a trio of turf races. The optional claiming Cushion Track feature is lead by 2-1 fav Limestone Edge (Kent D/Hess).
The 4th …read more

Wednesday (12-10-08) Hollywood Park recap
Edge to early/pressing types on Cushion Track. Both turf sprints were taken by stalkers.
Joel Rosario booted home a pair.
Delta Storm (Gryder/Mitchell) dropped out of the stakes ranks and found the winners’ circle in the optional claiming turf sprint feature.
Thursday (12-11-08) Hollywood Park preview
Wednesday’s 8-race card includes seven Cushion Track events and decent field sizes. The 2nd race, a straight maiden turf route, is the lone grass race carded.
The 4th race, a starter allowance route, is featured below.

Hollywood Park race 4 (Str-Alw, 2yo fil, 6.5f)
(1) Forty Dates (2-1) – Second in …read more

Sunday (12-07-08) Hollywood Park recap
Early/pressing types dominated on Cushion Track. A pair of wire jobs in the four turf races carded.
Hat trick for Rafael Bejarano (2 turf wins), and Michael Baze booted home a pair on the turf.
Figeac blew the first turn in the grassy 2nd. She opened up a huge lead down the backside and gamely held the place behind runaway chalky winner Cavanal.
Briecat (Court/Cerin) never looked back in a sharp victory over fav Model in the 27th Bayakoa Handicap. The wire job winner paid $28.80.

Wednesday (12-10-08) Hollywood Park preview
Wednesday’s 8-race card features …read more