I did a recap of the Nov 18th card on a previous blog, so I’ll move on to the 19th.

Martin Garcia and Garrett Gomez both booted home a pair of winners on Thursday. Loup Breton was a good looking late running winner of the grass feature. The Julio Canani trainee was making his US bow and appears headed to the stakes ranks. Yorktown finished a troubled 4th and is worth a look next time.

Diamondrella makes her first start for Gary Stevens in the Matriarch

Victor Espinoza rode a pair of winners on Friday night. The stakes quality 3rd race, an optional claiming turf sprint, was smartly captured by Reba Is Tops. Joe Talamo booted home the Mark Glatt trainee.

Mike Smith rode a pair of turf sprint winners on Saturday. The featured Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue was nabbed by a game American Lion. The 2yo son of Tiznow is on the Derby trail and figures to go next in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on Dec 19th.

The story of the Nov 22nd card was Joe Talamo. The confident young rider booted home five winners, including Bickersons in the $100k Moccasin Stakes. Bill Spawr saddled two winners, and the aforementioned Talamo rode both.

An 8-race card is on tap for Nov 25th, and I have all the action covered on the pick six blog.

Hollywood will run another 8-race card on Thanksgiving day, and the 3-day Turf Festival kicks off on Friday with the Grade 1 Citation Handicap.

Juvenile males go in the Grade 3 Generous on Saturday, and Bridgetown looms a prominent throughout threat.

Also on Saturday in the Grade 1 Matriarch, and Diamondrella makes her first start for new trainer Gary Stevens. Classy lady Ventura figures to call it a career after this event.

Festival concludes on Sunday with the Grade 3 Miesque and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

Image: Newscom

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Hollywood Park Recap – Nov 18th

Three wire jobs in Cushion Track sprints. Lone turf race carded was nabbed by a stalker.

Quinonez and Rosario both booted home a pair. Two more wins for trainer John Sadler.

Note that I successfully tabbed the Wednesday pick six on my suggested $72 Budget Ticket on pick6blog.com. 6 of 6 paid $748.80, and that is my 4th winning pick six ticket on the site since Labor Day!

Hollywood Park Preview – Nov 19th

Another 8-race card is on tap for Thursday, and there is a pair of turf races in the pick six sequence.

Thursday’s 3rd race is my MySpace free selection of the day.

Thursday’s 7th race is my Horse Racing Nation free play of the day.

For information on remaining Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

Image: Newscom

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Hollywood Park Recap – Nov 13th

Horses showing early-pressing speed and staying within striking range did best on Cushion Track. Same can be said for the turf course.

Riding double for Rafael Bejarano.

Hollywood Park Recap – Nov 14th

Three wire jobs on Cushion Track as early-pressing speed continued to do well. Turf course also favored early-pressing types and produced a turf sprint (six furlongs) wire job for the 2nd straight day.

Hat trick for Joel Rosario. Riding double for Alex Solis. John Sadler saddled three winners, and Mike Puype doubled up in the training category.

Bestdressed finished full of run to take down the On Trust Handicap at 7.5f. He was the only late runner to win on synthetic.

Hollywood Park Recap- Nov 15th

Another good day for early-pressing types on synthetic. Edge to forwardly placed runners on turf as well. Note that the grass feature was nabbed by a patient runner, but that was a pace collapse as the three speed players brought up the rear.

Four bagger for Joel Rosario. A pair of wins for Rafael Bejarano. Jerry Hollendorfer saddled two winners on the card.

One of Hollendorfer’s winners was sharp debut runner She’s Funomenal (Fusaichi Pegasus). The juvenile filly coasted to an easy wire job (84 BSF) tally under Rosario and is one to keep an eye on.

There were five losing favs in the pick six sequence on Sunday, and the carryover pool for Wednesday is more than $86k.

Hollywood Park Preview – Nov 18th

An 8-race card is on tap for Wednesday, and as mentioned earlier, there is a pick six carryover of more than $86k.

Wednesday’s 5th race is my MySpace free selection of the day.

Wednesday’s 8th race is my Horse Racing Nation free play of the day.

For information on remaining Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

The fall meet has been scaled back to 27-days. The first two Friday programs will be run at night, and Friday racing will move back to daylight hours on Nov 27th.

Highlights of the meet begin with the Turf Festival, which kicks off with the Grade 1 Citation on Nov 27th. The Grade 3 Generous and Grade 1 Matriarch will be contested on Nov 28th, and the 3-day turf extravaganza ends with the Grade 3 Miesque and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov 29th.

Two-year-old males take center stage in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on Dec 19th, and the juvenile fillies take their turn in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet the following day.

I will have all of the Hollywood action covered in my daily pick six blog, which began with the Del Mar meeting earlier this summer.

I successfully pegged one pick six and Del Mar and two more during the recently concluded Oak Tree meet.

The opening night Hollywood (Nov 13th) pick six is now posted, and click here to view the free analysis and tickets.

Friday’s free Horse Racing Nation selection is the 8th race from Hollywood Park, and you can view my pick here.

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The Pick 6 begins in the 4th race. Launch The Bull (5-2) and The Whammer (3-1) head a field of ten maiden sprinters. Ringolevio (4-1) and Unbridled Papillon (6-1) also figure to attract support.

The 5th race a claiming sprint for the ladies, and Wada Falls (3-1) is the morning line fav in the wide open 10-horse field.

Down the Stretch at Del Mar

Saarface is an early scratch in the 6th, and AE Gilligan (6-1) could still draw in with another defection. Buyer’s Remorse (5-2) is the one to beat in this maiden claiming sprint.

On the grass in the 7th, and take out Royal Vision. The Usual Q. T. (5-2) is the morning line fav, but note that Flores abandons for Adam Suances (3-1).

The 8th and featured event is the $100k Generous Portion Stakes for juvenile fillies, and U Turn Me Crazy has been scratched. Unbridled Meeting (5-2) is the one to catch, and also keep an eye on maiden Whispering Hush. The latter motored home to land the show after a bad start in local bow.

The 9th and final race is a maiden claiming sprint, and we are left with a field of 10 after the defections of Downtown Banker, Seany’s Story, Velikaya, and De Brief Me. Hotsie (7-2) is the tepid morning line choice.

For free Pick 6 analysis with tickets, please click here.

Image: Newscom

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My daily Pick 6 analysis can be found on pick6blog.com.

In addition to analysis, I will be including tickets using the Daily Racing Form’s Ticket Maker program.

They're Off at Del Mar!

As I mentioned in my opening day post, I will tread lightly until track bias and jockey/trainer information comes into focus. In the meantime, I will use 2008 track trends to help construct my tickets.

Also, I will be updating posts during each raceday, so check back often. It is going to be an exciting seven weeks!

Wednesday’s 10-race card features the $100k Oceanside Stakes for three-year-olds traveling a flat mile on the turf course. Stalkers and closers from outer posts performed well at this grass distance in ‘08. Keep an eye on Rendezvous, who did not care for the slop last time. Mark S The Cooler is 2-2 at this distance on the weeds, and Meteore has won two straight on the turf.

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Pioneerof The Nile has won his last two graded synthetic routes at this distance (8.5f) since moving to the Bob Baffert barn, and today’s pilot Garrett Gomez is 2-2 with him. The son of Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker does not have to win this as he has more than enough graded earnings to make it into the Derby starting gate, but the class of the field is training forwardly and should get the job done at low odds.

Shafted (Mineshaft) has won 2 of 4 route starts and looked good in local allowance win at this distance on Jan 2nd. $150k Keeneland sales grad failed to fire in the Robert Lewis Stakes (replay above), but he has the talent to rebound at a price.

New Bay earned a quality speed rating in local sprint entry level tally on Feb 16th. $310k purchase is 2-2 at Santa Anita, and Richard Mandella gives confident young rider Joe Talamo a leg up.

3-time winner Feisty Suances is the one to catch, but the state bred sprinter might find this distance out of his reach. Best shot to hit the board is to sneak away on a soft pace.

Kelly Leak was disqualified from a graded score last year and has been competitive in 6 of 7 lifetime starts on turf/synthetic. He sports a local bullet and will be finishing.

Jeranimo (Congaree) owns tactical speed and landed the place at this distance last out. He ran well all three outings and is one of several with the ability to hit the board.

He’s Really Big graduated in a flat mile maiden claimer on Jan 14th, then came back and nabbed a local starter allowance affair at this distance on Feb 22nd. Improving sort is in deep water versus stakes foes.

Top 3 Selections: (1) Pioneerof The Nile, (2) Shafted, (3) New Bay

Longshot To Watch: Feisty Suances

Tomorrow, I will take a look at the Tampa Bay Derby and Rebel Stakes.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Imperial Council ran a quality race to grab the place in his first start around two turns. If you like Shug’s well bred colt, don’t give up on him because the best is yet to come.

Gotham pacesetter and show finisher Mr. Fantasy will either come back for the Wood or shoot for the Illinois Derby.

2o filly champ Stardom Bound did not run fast in her winning Las Virgenes (G1) return in February. Her connections thought she would move forward in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but she was life and death to win a multiple horse photo. The Santa Anita Derby is wisely not on her radar screen at this point. She is expected to remain on synthetic ground and point for the Ashland Stakes (April 4th) at Keeneland, and most likely the Kentucky Oaks if all goes well. I look forward to trying to beat her in the near future, and my longshot top Hooh Way almost got her on Saturday.

Friesan Fire is the 5-2 favorite for Saturday’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Lecomte and Risen Star (replay below) winner tries for the local trifecta.

His main rival Patena (Lecomte runner-up), now conditioned by Rick Dutrow, worked a strong 5f in :59-2/5 at the Gulf.

Risen Star place finisher Flying Pegasus will also line up, along with SoCal shipper Papa Clem, Giant Oak, Terrain, Free Country, Uno Mas, Soul Warrior, and Nowhere To Hide.

Rachel Alexandra is heavily favored to win the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), and she looks like the most talented 3yo filly in the land at this stage.

Early Kentucky Derby fav Old Fashioned recently worked a 5f bullet (:59) in advance of Saturday’s Rebel at Oaklawn Park. Southwest place finisher Silver City is the one to catch again, but I do not know how much farther the fleet sprinter wants to travel.

Hello Broadway is expected to go favored in Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Barclay Tagg’s Gulfstream invader most recently did all of the dirty work in Hutcheson place finish.

Finally, Pioneerof The Nile (pictured) tunes up for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) with a San Felipe (G2) prep on a very busy Saturday.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

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Early/pressing type Quality Road (Elusive Quality) was easily best over clear runner-up Theregoesjojo (Brahms) in the one-turn mile (113 BSF). The aforementioned duo are expected to go next in the Florida Derby, which will be their initial foray around two turns. Without route foundation, they could be in deep water on the 1st Saturday in May, but they are serious players over the Gulfstream speedway, especially the winner. Don’t be shocked in either or both ship out of town (Wood Memorial?) for the next engagements.

Graded route hero Beethoven (Sky Mesa) ran on well to land the show and should appreciate a return to distance racing. Florida Derby should be next for the John Ward runner.

Also-rans Capt. Candyman Can (4th), This Ones for Phil (5th), Notonthesamepage (7th), Taqarub (9th), and Break Water Edison (10th) all have distance limitations.

On the FOY undercard, Affirmatif (Unbridled’s Song) rolled to an effortless turf route tally in his career bow, and he ran faster than his older stablemate and Canadian Turf (G3) winner Twilight Meteor. It will be interesting to see where the Todd Pletcher runner shows up next. Note that Mr. Pletcher already has Dunkirk for the Florida Derby.

Sham Stakes

The Pamplemousse (Kafwain) owns dangerous early speed, and he ran his foes into the ground in the 9f Sham (replay below), which netted him a BSF of 103. The SA Derby is up next for the Julio Canani trainee, and he could prove vulnerable if pressured early.

Florida shipper Take The Points (Even The Score) finished a fine 2nd for Todd Pletcher, and he will either return to SoCal or show up in the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Recent maiden winner Mr. Hot Stuff, Colonel John’s baby brother, rallied for the show and galloped out strongly in his 1st start versus winners. The Eoin Harty charge should continue to progress.

In other Derby developments, 2yo champ Midshipman is out of the Triple Crown series with a soft tissue injury to his left front leg.

2yo filly champ Stardom Bound is expected in the SA Oaks on March 7th, and a strong effort could land her a date with the gents in the SA Derby.

The Gotham Stakes at the Big A will also be run on March 7th and is expected to include talented West Virginia shipper Russell Road, Haynesfield, SoCal invader I Want Revenge, and Shug McGaughey’s very promising colt Imperial Council.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

The Pamplemousse, the 9-5 morning line favorite, has won two straight, including the Grade 3 San Rafael at a flat mile here. Alex Solis/Julio Canani are 4-7 together, and the early/pressing type might get brave if able to sneak away early. He gets a stamina test today and will not offer much wagering value.

Mr. Hot Stuff is on the upswing for trainer Eoin Harty and WinStar Farms. His older brother Colonel John was 6th in last year’s Kentucky Derby before winning the Travers later that summer. The son of 2-time BC Classic winner Tiznow is bred to be any kind and will be closing. I have always liked this one, and the $200k Keeneland sales grad is working well for this. Below is a replay of his Feb 1st maiden win at Santa Anita.

Smart Bid owns fine tactical speed for the 43% Rafael Bejarano/Graham Motion team, and he has handled turf, dirt, and synthetic. Improving sort looms the upsetter.

Take The Points invades from Florida for Todd Pletcher, and we will have to see how he handles synthetic ground. Garrett Gomez hops aboard the winner of two straight.

Bourbon Bay is a quality turf performer, and I would not be shocked if he rallied for a share for sharp conditioner Neil Drysdale.

Mark S The Cooler has failed to threaten in three stakes tries.

Unbridled Roman scratched out of an easier allowance spot earlier this week. He ran well when stretched out here last time, and he gets tested for class today.

Ventana stretches out for Bob Baffert and could challenge The Pamplemousse early.

Hi Flyin Indy is also trained by Eoin Harty, and the Darley Stable colt disappointed in 1st start versus winners last time. His stablemate Mr. Hot Stuff is more interesting.

Tiz True is bred to improve with distance and experience, but he is not fast enough at this stage to compete with these.

Balfour Park was claimed out of a $100k maiden claimer by Craig Lewis, and this is an ambitious spot for the recent graduate.

Lifeline was an early scratch.

Top 3 Selections: (1) Mr. Hot Stuff, (2) The Pamplemousse, (3) Smart Bid

Longshot to watch: Bourbon Bay

Photo Credit: newscom.com

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