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Another glorious day for racing in Southern California at Hollywood Park.

We sprint and go long over the Hollywood Park turf course in a pair of first-level allowance optional claiming events with $54,000 purses on a tricky Thursday afternoon card under impeccable weather conditions.

The fifth race sees $25,000 Cal-bred fillies sprint six furlongs with Tasty Treat the 5-to-2 morning line favorite. The 3-year-old daughter of Roar exits a pair of solid efforts down the hill at Santa Anita where she won against open $32,000 claimers before finishing as the runner-up against first-level allowance Cal-breds.

Claimed for $8,000 in February by George Lopez, 3-to-1 co-second choice Sizzling Gold has won 2-of-3 for her new connections on her way up the class ladder and is protected for the first time in 23 races. The eight wins for the 5-year-old daughter of Formal Gold are by far the most in the field, but they’ve all come in claimers with her two tries in starter allowance company early in her career resulting in sound defeats.

The tag jumps to $40,000 for older males travelling 1 ¼-miles in the seventh race with Ain the 5-to-2 choice making his third start off a long layoff and returning to the turf. In his only previous try on the green, the 5-year-old son of Aldebaran won sprinting down the hill at Santa Anita last January and Joel Rosario sticks here after being aboard for the first time in a sixth-place finish on the dirt last month.

Rosario had been aboard 3-to-1 second choice Antidote in his last four starts, but Martin Garcia takes over today on the 5-year-old son of Tiznow, who despite ten in the money finishes hasn’t won since breaking his maiden over this turf course last June.

We’re off to the races!

Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 5 (2,3,5,6,7) – The other 3-to-1 shot is No. 8 Darling Dodie, and we’ll play against her drawn outside in this turf sprint and spread instead with No. 2 Abella, No. 3 Goldentouch of Gin, No. 5 Mary Contrary, No. 6 Sizzling Gold and No. 7 Tasty Treat.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (2,3,5,7) – No. 7 Coluda plummets in class on the 11-day turn around and tries to lead them all the way, while No. 5 Royal Import ships back to So Cal off consecutive wins at Golden Gate.

No. 3 Wild Revenge also drops in class for Turo and No. 2 Low Gear Power could wake up on the Mullins claim.

Leg 3 – Race 7 (ALL) – Difficult to gauge a real edge for any of these seven runners, so we’ll use them all.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (6) – Off three straight near misses, No. 6 Cheezy Breezy stretches back out and catches a race with some early speed that should set up his closing kick.

Recap – (2,3,5,6,7) w (2,3,5,7) w (ALL) w (6) – Total cost of ticket = $70

Sunday’s Result – (-$180)

Total for currentHollywoodParkspring/summer meet – (-$954.45)

Total from 12/26/10-4/22/12 – (+$588.70)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (2,4,5) – The first of two for babies at 4 ½-furlongs, this time $40,000 claimers and we’ll use the trio of No. 2 Gambulina, No. 4 Slew’s Way and No. 5 Last Equity.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (ALL) – Not many positives for this group of fillies in a starter allowance that could just as well be a claiming non-winners of two.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,4,7) – Lots of droppers here with No. 2 Raggin Wood, who won her only other route, No. 4 Bench Beauty in for a tag for the first time and No. 7 Dustin’s Magic back at the level claimed.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (2) – Off a solid debut, we’ll look for No. 2 Awe’ Some Kitten to show good speed again with a little better stick to finally snap the long drought for Gary Sherlock.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,3,5,6,7) – Same five as the late Pick-4.

Recap – (2,4,5) w (ALL) w (2,4,7) w (2) w (2,3,5,6,7) – Total cost of ticket = $135

Sunday’s Result – (+$127.65)

Total for currentHollywoodParkspring/summer meet – (-$420.95)

Total from 7/20/10-4/22/12 (+$2,150.80)

Best Bet of the Day – Can now be found in the free analysis section at www.theracingedition.com along with an early Pick-4 ticket and a consensus box for the entire card.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches and much more!

Check out my blogs for America’s Best Racing on www.followhorseracing.com!

Listen to my weekly HD Los Angeles sports podcast!

To view my horse racing channel on YouTube click here!

For more Hollywood Park action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.

Good luck!

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Dynamic Host and Dhaamer reunite in today's $70,000 Round Table after being separated by just a neck after 1 1/2-miles in the Tokyo City over Santa Anita's main track on March 24.

On the day we celebrate and appreciate our mothers, horses go round and round for 1 ½-miles over Hollywood Park’s turf course in the $70,000 Round Table.

Looking to turn the tables after coming up a neck short at this same distance over Santa Anita’s main track in the Tokyo City (Grade III), Dhaamer is the 5-to-2 morning line favorite. Since that runner-up effort behind today’s 3-to-1 second choice Dynamic Host, Dhaamer ran fourth over 1 ¾-miles on turf in the San Juan Capistrano (Grade II) and gets Joel Rosario for the first time today with Rafael Bejarano suspended for three days.

Dynamic Host tries to transfer his form to the turf, where he’s won just once from ten starts. Given a brief respite since the Tokyo City, the 6-year-old son of Dynaformer has trained steadily in the interim and retains the services of David Flores.

Off a 15-to-1 upset over this layout in an optional claimer at Santa Anita, Lumberyard Jack can score right back at a nice price again listed at 8-to-1 on the morning line for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill. However, the 4-year-old son of Bellamy Road flopped badly when trying a stake off his last win at Arlington Park nearly a year ago and does not have a recorded work over the past three weeks.

We’re off to the races!

Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 6 (3,4,5,6,8,10) – Maiden claimers break from the Costco parking lot before running 7 ½-furlongs and we’ll spread with No. 3 Spensive’s Image, No. 4 Langfurs Lightning, No. 5 Swiss Game, No. 6 Jeffery’s Pride, No. 8 King’s Red Journey and No. 10 Full’s Kris S.

Leg 2 – Race 7 (2,3,4,7,8) – Along with the trio above of No. 2 Lumberyard Jack, No. 4 Dynamic Host and No. 7 Dhaamer, use No. 3 Quaintly in his second U.S. start and No. 8 Porfido with three wins at the distance.

Leg 3 – Race 8 (4,8) – With Martin Garcia having fallen out of favor in Bob Baffert’s barn and Bejarano suspended, Martin Pedroza picks up the mount on No. 4 Ranchero, who was under a ride all the way to break his maiden last time.

If the favorite can’t get the job done, we’ll look to No. 8 Meadow Road on the return to his favorite main track.

Leg 4 – Race 9 (3,5,7,9,10,11) – The best betting race on the card is another spread for us with No. 3 Wild Truffles, No. 5 Eileen’s Dream, No. 7 Pourquoi Pas, No. 9 Shelley Beach, No. 10 Special Charm and No. 11 More Chocolate.

Recap – (3,4,5,6,8,10) w (2,3,4,7,8) w (4,8) w (3,5,7,9,10,11) – Total cost of ticket = $180

Yesterday’s Result – (-$40.50)

Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$774.45)

Total from 12/26/10-4/22/12 – (+$588.70)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (5) – No. 5 Morganouska showed a new dimension last time coming from off the pace to win going away, but he can go right back to the front today as lone speed and wire this field on the confident class hike.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (1,2) – The cut back could suit No. 1 Burleys Leap well as he gets back to sprinting for the first time since breaking his maiden by five lengths.

No. 2 Laura’s Pleasure drops into a non-winners of two for the first time and broke her maiden by a distance over this main track three years ago.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,4,6,7) – No. 2 Rauschenberg is the top pick to run them down late as he did in his last try over this turf course, but we’ll spread with No. 4 Atticus Jack, No. 6 Indian Winter and No. 7 Koast.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,3,4) – The scratch of No. 5 Anabaa Premium really makes this a pace less race so we figure the heady Joel Rosario will put No.1 Montego Bay on the lead. He’s trained well in the mornings and could get brave if he can shake clear, but we can’t trust him completely so we’ll add No. 3 Death Star and No. 4 Qatar’s Pearl.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,2,4,7,8) – No. 1 La Mano Nera is set for a massive improvement in her second off the layoff, but we’ll spread again with No. 2 Nisus, No. 4 Intuitive Nature, No. 7 Blue Jay Attack and No. 8 Nofty.

Recap – (5) w (1,2) w (2,4,6,7) w (1,3,4) w (1,2,4,7,8) – Total cost of ticket = $60

Yesterday’s Result – (-$144)

Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$548.60)

Total from 7/20/10-4/22/12 (+$2,150.80)

Best Bet of the Day – Can now be found in the free analysis section at www.theracingedition.com along with an early Pick-4 ticket and a consensus box for the entire card.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches and much more!

Check out my blogs for America’s Best Racing on www.followhorseracing.com!

Listen to my weekly HD Los Angeles sports podcast!

To view my horse racing channel on YouTube click here!

For more Hollywood Park action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.

Good luck!

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Undefeated in both starts at seven furlongs, Drill cuts back to that distance today in the $100,00 Laz Barrera (Grade III) after a runner-up effort in the Northern Spur at Oaklawn.

With Gun Boat and Drill making up half the field, Bob Baffert seems sure to add to his blazing start at the meet with a win in the $100,000 Laz Barrera (Grade III) for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs on the main track.

The adjectives to describe the disappointment of having only four horses run in a graded stake are endless, added to the fact that American Act probably shouldn’t be running after bearing out badly turning for home just 16 days ago before winning the Harry Henson.

American Act deserves tons of credit for showing the heart to overcome the trouble he got himself into, but it seems likely he has an issue that caused those antics and a slow three-furlong drill since doesn’t exude confidence.

We’ll also give credit to Gary Mandella for taking a shot with debut winner Boompa, who rallied from off the pace after breaking from the rail to score a 10-to-1 upset at Santa Anita on April 7. He may be over-matched here, but the $190,000 purchase might also jump up and reward his connections, something that the slew of other 3-year-olds that could have entered won’t get the chance to do from their stall.

The lack of competitive balance on this circuit is magnified by today’s feature and for the health of the sport things need to change in a hurry to spread the success at the top level of the game to more trainers.

Until then, we’ll use both Baffert runners and move on.

We’re off to the races!

Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 6 (2,3,4) – No. 2 Royal Meridian disappointed at odds-on in his last, but that came against a pair of sharp runners. It doesn’t seem like there’s any such competition in this heat so he should prove to be much the best at short odds.

Add No. 3 Northern Iowa with the ability to improve off a decent debut and No. 4 Incentivize, who must be respected in his unveiling based off his connections despite lack luster reports from a.m. activity.

Leg 2 – Race 7 (3,5,6) – No. 3 Lake Maracaibo is the deserving favorite again after finishing as the runner-up in that role in her first two starts. The daughter of War Front should handle the stretch out with an ideal draw.

Both No. 5 Playful Humor and No. 6 Jolly Days have lots of room for improvement, but No. 10 Lady Ten seems likely for another underneath effort with a wide trip after breaking from the outside.

Leg 3 – Race 8 (2,4,6) – No. 4 Octane defeated Royal Meridian in their last and has continued to train impressively. He gets a stiff test in his first against winners from No. 2 Obsess and if the race falls apart No. 6 Seventh Avenue can make it a perfect 2-for-2 in his career in his stateside debut.

Leg 4 – Race 9 (8,9,13) – We’ll make No. 8 Strawberry Route the top pick getting back to Cushion Track. Other than that it looks chalky in another bad heat with either No. 9 Silver Gun Girl or No. 13 Pumpkin Pie.

Recap – (2,3,4) w (3,5,6) w (2,4,6) w (8,9,13) – Total cost of ticket = $40.50

Yesterday’s Result – (-$90)

Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$733.95)

Total from 12/26/10-4/22/12 – (+$588.70)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (1,2) – No. 1 Lewkodonia is a threat for a repeat wire job and No. 2 Choco Ale merits respect on the class drop.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (3,4,5,6) – The scratch of No. 1 Earnednevergiven leaves a potential the door open for No. 4 Spartan Jet to attempt a wire job.

No. 6 Mythical Power is curiously being given away when he could potentially be a stallion prospect and it’s likely he either wins by double digits or finishes off the board.

No. 3 Bruno’s Wager is razor-sharp again and No. 5 Valkyrie Missile also drops to a career low.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (1,2) – Baffert. No. 1 Gun Boat and No. 2 Drill.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (2,5,8,9,11,12) – Not much to like about any of these bottom-level maiden-claimers so we’ll spread with No. 2 Ralphy Girl, No. 5 Satcmo’s Mouse, No. 8 Warren’s Performer, No. 9 Courageousandbold, No. 11 Agreed Upon and No. 12 J Louie.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,2,7) – Along with No. 7 Gothic Samurai, use No. 1 Donato and No. 2 Clearance Clarence.

Recap – (1,2) w (3,4,5,6) w (1,2) w (2,5,8,9,11,12) w (1,2,7) – Total cost of ticket = $144

Yesterday’s Result – (+$219.65)

Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$404.60)

Total from 7/20/10-4/22/12 (+$2,150.80)

Best Bet of the Day – Can now be found in the free analysis section at www.theracingedition.com along with an early Pick-4 ticket and a consensus box for the entire card.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches and much more!

Check out my blogs for America’s Best Racing on www.followhorseracing.com!

Listen to my weekly HD Los Angeles sports podcast!

To view my horse racing channel on YouTube click here!

For more Hollywood Park action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.

Good luck!

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Multiple stakes winner Heleonor Rugby can be yours for $80,000 as she takes on four rivals in Friday night's co-featured main track sprint.

It’s time to whip it good with Devo in concert after eight races on a Friday night at Hollywood Park where a pair of allowances with $54,000 purses are featured.

A short group of five 3-year-old fillies sprint six furlongs in the fourth race and Magical Blend is the 2-to-1 favorite off a nearly four-length maiden score at Santa Anita on April 15. The daughter of Dixie Union is likely to be joined on the front end by 3-to-1 co-third choice My Selection, who breaks from the rail for Bob Baffert and cuts back to a sprint after fading going two turns in her first against winners.

The other 3-to-1 shot is Heleonor Rugby, who leads the field with three wins and is available for the $80,000 price tag for the first time in her career, as is 5-to-2 second choice Treatherlikealady off a clear win at the $75,000 claiming level in her last.

The other allowance goes as the seventh race with first-level Cal-bred males going 1 1/16-miles on the turf course and Husband’s Folly the 5-to-2 favorite making his first start over a route of ground after seven sprints. The 4-year-old son of Decarchy has closed effectively in those sprints, but that doesn’t always translate to success at longer distances.

Another stretching out for the first time is 5-to-1 shot A Toast to You, who won sprinting over this turf course eight days ago and makes his third start off the layoff. The 3-year-old son of Tribal Rule has won 2-of-3 career starts and gets Garrett Gomez in the irons for the first time since David Flores sticks with Husband’s Folly.

In his first mount back in Southern California after winning the Kentucky Derby, Mario Gutierrez will try to wire the opener with Blake before riding a pair of long shots later in the card.

We’re off to the races!

Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,2,8,10) – No. 8 Borealis Way has run by far the best races in a pair of runner-up efforts and returns as a first-time gelding off the long layoff.

No. 2 D J Dave draws well for potent connections, No. 10 Quick Save needs to be much the best breaking from the outside, but can get it done for all the L.A. Kings fans, and No. 1 Warren’s Dr. Boo is the bust-out bomber from a prolific debut sire.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (2,4,6,7,8) – The top pick is No. 6 Hammurabi on the claim and cut back, but we’ll spread with No. 2 Fire in the Wind, No. 4 American Wildcat, No. 7 Devoted Magic, and No. 8 Brady Blue Eyes.

Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,4,5) – Along with the pair mentioned above of No. 4 A Toast to You and No. 5 Husband’s Folly, use No. 1 He’s Very Rare with Rafael Bejarano aboard for the first time and back to two turns.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (5,9,10) – This race should be won by either No. 9 Hidden Quest or No. 10 Iron Joe T, but we’ll add another long shot with No. 5 It’s Time to Go, who had no shot when breaking poorly from the rail in his debut.

Recap – (1,2,8,10) w (2,4,6,7,8) w (1,4,5) w (5,9,10) – Total cost of ticket = $90

Yesterday’s Result – (-$72)

Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$643.95)

Total from 12/26/10-4/22/12 – (+$588.70)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – No. 2 Blake is a big threat to lead all the way, but he also may be better sprinting so we’ll use all five runners.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (2,5,6) – No. 5 Really Elegant is a threat to wire this field in similar fashion as she did in her last try over this main track in December.

Both No. 2 Inner Grove and No. 6 Tripped the Light can run down the top choice if she tires.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (5,6) – The top two choices will be tough with No. 5 Jonny’s Choice and No. 6 Swift Eagle taking advantage of what should be a hot early pace.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (ALL) – Use all five runners again since we wouldn’t just leave off No. 2 Twitter Pie.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,8) – Cut it down to a pair of runners for the Pick-5 using No. 2 D J Dave and No. 8 Borealis Way.

Recap – (ALL) w (2,5,6) w (5,6) w (ALL) w (2,8) – Total cost of ticket = $150

Yesterday’s Result – (-$80)

Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$624.25)

Total from 7/20/10-4/22/12 (+$2,150.80)

Best Bet of the Day – Can now be found in the free analysis section at www.theracingedition.com along with an early Pick 4 ticket and a consensus box for the entire card.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches and much more!

Check out my blogs for America’s Best Racing on www.followhorseracing.com!

Listen to my weekly HD Los Angeles sports podcast!

To view my horse racing channel on YouTube click here!

For more Hollywood Park action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.

Good luck!

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