Orb can move one step closer to immortality in today's Preakness Stakes.

The influence from Orb’s win two weeks ago at an overlaid price of 5-to-1 creates a massive difference for his supporters today installed as the even-money favorite and likely going off lower than that in the $1 million Preakness Stakes (Grade 1) run over 1 3/16-miles at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

In half of the last 16 years, the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner has wheeled back to win the Preakness, only to be unable to capture the Belmont Stakes (G1), leaving us 35 years between Triple Crown success.

A winner in five straight since three losses to begin his career, Orb breaks from the inside post and with a trio of horses likely to push the early pace, the Malibu Moon colt can save ground throughout before either finding a seam or circling his opposition and going wide as high-riding Joel Rosario usually prefers to do.

With rain forecast to arrive just before the 6:20 p.m. ET post time, it’s possible the track will be wet again as it was at Churchill Downs a fortnight ago.

D. Wayne Lukas sends a third of the nine-horse field in search of his sixth Preakness score, the first one coming in 1980 with Codex.

Two Lukas runners are back for another shot, with Oxbow and Will Take Charge piloted by Hall of Fame jockeys that have tasted previous Preakness success.

After landing the rail in the Derby and drawing wide in many of his previous races, Oxbow finally finds himself in a desirable spot breaking from post No. 6 underneath Gary Stevens, whose pair of Preakness triumphs came for Bob Baffert with Silver Charm in 1997 and Point Given in 2001.

The winner of the 1993 Preakness aboard Prairie Bayou, Mike Smith takes over on Will Take Charge for the first time.

After going off at a shorter price in the Derby and finishing ahead of his stable mate, it’s peculiar that Oxbow is longer on the morning line at 15-to-1 than the 12-to-1 on Will Take Charge, with the only plausible explanation being the difference Smith can make having won a slew of races on the biggest stages.

The third Lukas entrant is 30-to-1 long shot Titletown Five, likely to be part of the early pace brigade unless new tactics are employed with the usually patient Julien Leparoux in the irons for the first time. The son of Tiznow is owned in part by Heisman Trophy winner and Hall of Fame running back Paul Hornung.

The team of Baffert, also looking for his sixth Preakness, and owner Mike Pegram hope 12-to-1 shot Govenor Charlie can land them their second Preakness in four years and third since 1998. Along with Martin Garcia, who is the only other rider in the field with a Preakness victory, the trio teamed up to win with Lookin at Lucky in 2010.

After coming up well short looking for a Derby repeat, Doug O’Neill hopes 8-to-1 shot Goldencents can rebound to give him consecutive Preakness scores. The son of Into Mischief was never comfortable under the Twin Spires when he was denied the early lead and didn’t take to the off going, but was covered up late by Kevin Krigger in hopes of having something left in the tank.

A pair of stakes are part of an 11-race card in Inglewood that kicks off at 11 a.m. PT, with the feature seeing older females at 1 1/16-miles on Cushion Track in the $150,000 Marjorie L. Everett (G2) where Jerry Hollendorfer sends half the six-horse field including morning line favorite Lady of Fifty.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 8 (1,3,5,7,9,10,11) – Bottom-level three-year-old maiden claimers and we spread with No. 1 Instinctively Bold, No. 3 Rocky Barboa, No. 5 Sports Report, No. 7 Storm Castle, No. 9 Regally Soul, No. 10 President Nico and No. 11 Dramatic Allan.

Leg 2 – Race 9 (1,3) – A plethora of early speed all around lands on a pair of closers drawn inside that can save ground with No. 1 Insideondoutside and No. 3 Very Elusive.

Leg 3 – Race 10 (ALL) – If No. 4 Lady of Fifty returns to the form that saw her blitz the Bayakoa (G2) in her lone start on Cushion Track she will be tough, but if not a case can be made for all five others.

Leg 4 – Race 11 (3,6,11,12) – Numerous easy tosses as bottom-level maiden claimers book end the sequence and we’re left with No. 3 Goodtobewild, No. 6 Maddog Maddie, No. 11 Manta and No. 12 Speedy Vixen.

Recap – (1,3,5,7,9,10,11) w (1,3) w (ALL) w (3,6,11,12) Total cost of ticket = $168

Yesterday’s Result – (-$96)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,451.05)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – Four runners dropping from special weight company that haven’t shown much and a pair of debuters mean we land with all six in the opener.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (4) – The scratch of the other John Sadler entrant leads us to believe No. 4 Derringer is worthy of a single at a short price.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (6,7,8) – No. 7 Wednesday exits a strong runner-up effort in a stakes and is likely another short-priced winner, but we’ll add the pair of No. 6 Tap the Magic and No. 8 Darling Dodie looking for an upset.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,3,4,6) – The customary Baffert pair of No. 1 Gifting and No. 4 Salt Tequila Lim must be included, along with two-time runner-up No. 3 Ridingwiththedevil and regally-bred No. 6 Serene Melody.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,5) – The under card feature $100,000 Frans Valentine Stakes for Cal-bred distaffers at a mile on turf and No. 1 Top Kisser can streak to her fourth straight win.

Double up with No. 5 Chokecherrymary, who has had success again open company and lands Edwin Maldonado for the first time.

Recap – (ALL) w (4) w (6,7,8) w (1,3,4,6) w (1,5) – Total cost of ticket = $72

Yesterday’s Result – (-$192)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,595.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

Fiftyshadesofhay won her graded stakes debut by nearly six lengths in the Santa Ysabel (G3) at Santa Anita in January.

After a day off to at least partially lick some wounds and shake a prolonged slump, we’re back with three-year-old fillies in the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (Grade 2) at Pimlico ahead of tomorrow’s second Triple Crown Jewel.

No fillies make the quick two-week turn around from the first Friday in May, meaning Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) runner-up Beholder isn’t around to beat 2-to-1 second choice Fiftyshadesofhay for a third straight time. In her last two races, the Bob Baffert-trained daughter of Pulpit has made no impact through the stretch against last year’s juvenile filly champion settling for minor awards in a pair of Grade 1’s at Santa Anita.

The talented and fortuitous Joel Rosario climbs aboard Fiftyshadesofhay for the first time after Rafael Bejarano had been aboard in all eight previous starts.

In what appears to be a match race on paper, Emolient is the 9-to-5 favorite having been given over five weeks to recuperate since her smashing nine-length triumph in the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. That win came just seven days after the Empire Maker filly was distanced by 30 lengths in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), which marked the only time in six starts she has not finished in the exacta.

Mike Smith was in the irons for the first time in the Ashland and treks east again to retain the mount.

A rare solid weekday card locally is highlighted by a $62,500 second-level allowance optional claimer for older males at 1 1/16-miles on the main track where Rousing Sermon is the 5-to-2 morning line favorite looking to string together consecutive wins after snapping a long losing streak in his last.

Dueling leaders on the front end should ensure a solid pace for the closers and we’ll look to 20-to-1 long shot Majestic Moment to spring an upset returning to Cushion Track for the first time since breaking his maiden impressively last summer. Four starts since for the four-year-old Malibu Moon colt that once fetched $470,000 at auction have resulted in a trio of sound defeats and a win against first-level company at Santa Anita two races back.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,2,3,4) – No. 1 Et Tu Walker finally hit his stride against weaker on the main track and was able to break through in his last back doing what he was bred for on turf. His speed can get him in good position breaking from the rail.

No. 2 Cannonize has class, but his current form is sketchy and this appears to be an attempt at selling, No. 3 Thinking of Girls has won his last two when in for a tag and tries to translate that success to turf and No. 4 Luckarack returns to a course where he’s a perfect 2-for-2 for the first time in a long time.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (3,4,6,7) – Use the pair discussed above with No. 3 Majestic Moment and No. 4 Rousing Sermon, along with No. 6 American Blend and No. 7 Jaycito, who likely either wins or finishes last.

Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,2,3,4) – The inside four on turf again with No. 1 Fine Assay, No. 2 Macha, No. 3 Bonnie Lesley and No. 4 Sweet Red Cat.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (3,6,7) – Juvenile experience counts with No. 3 Better Bet and No. 6 California Chrome and we take notice with Bejarano aboard the debuting No. 7 Tenacity.

Recap – (1,2,3,4) w (3,4,6,7) w (1,2,3,4) w (3,6,7) Total cost of ticket = $96

Sunday’s Result – (-$150)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,355.05)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – The inside and outside runners have the slowest numbers, but also the best form over this main track, so we’ll punch the all button in this depleted field of four.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (6) – A rough group of bottom-level claimers where No. 6 Warren’s Morgan towers if she’s anywhere near her best.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (1,2,3,4,8,9) – Wide-open in this elongated turf route for maiden allowance fillies using No. 1 Hair on Fire, No. 2 Topic, No. 3 Scooter Bird, No. 4 Charm Catcher, No. 8 Dance Team and No. 9 Indygo F M A.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (3,4,5,7) – Cody Autrey hasn’t had much luck winning on this circuit, but in hopes of enhancing his chances for a solid Del Mar he has some stock in for this meet and No. 4 Tuckers Point has the best success in routes of the droppers.

Add droppers No. 3 Brannaman and No. 7 Tenkiller Kid, along with No. 5 Captain Corrigan exiting solid tries going a distance of ground against claimers.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,2,3,4) – Same quartet as late Pick-4.

Recap – (ALL) w (6) w (1,2,3,4,8,9) w (3,4,5,7) w (1,2,3,4) – Total cost of ticket = $192

Sunday’s Result – (-$144)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,403.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

The rapidly progressive Puissance de Lune is reportedly recovering well from a minor knee operation following the amazing dead-heat he forced on his last outing, a run that has catapulted the Darren Weir-trained gelding to ante-post favouritism for November’s Melbourne Cup, ‘the race that stops a nation’,  writes Elliot Slater.

The lightly raced five-year-old appeared to have no chance of justifying 5/2 favouritism when still five lengths behind the front-running Budriguez entering the final furlong of the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington in March, but he put in a tremendous late effort and fairly flew home in the final 100 yards under Glen Boss to force a dramatic dead-heat with Craig Williams’ mount.

The mile distance of the Flemington contest was clearly a bare minimum for the gelded son of Shamardal who needed every yard of the trip having won in fine style on his previous outing at the same track five months earlier having been supported down to 2/1 market leader in the 13 furlong Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Handicap Stakes to establish himself as a horse to follow.

A late maturer, Puissance de Lune is a typically versatile Australian performer and has already been pencilled in by many seasoned observers as a serious candidate for top honours in the Melbourne Cup later in the year. Bookmakers have installed Weir’s charge the current 8/1 ante-post favourite ahead of 12/1 chance Fiorente and Its A Dundeel.

The Melbourne Cup is not just a horse race; it’s one of Australia’s major social events. Anyone who is anyone will be at Flemington where top fashion and the cream of the ‘Sport of Kings’ meet on a day that is a national holiday and one of the biggest betting events in the Australian sporting calendar.

Dhaamer blasted away late to win by 4 1/2-lengths in last year's Round Table Stakes.

Round and round we go on Mother’s Day over 1 ½-miles in the $70,000 Round Table Stakes where a pair of over-matched females join the festivities to bump the field size to six.

The story book result of having one of the older mares pull off the upset is unlikely, but 15-to-1 shot Little Emily can make her impact in the race by pushing the early tempo and disrupting any plans 5-to-2 third choice Diamondsdiplomat has of stretching his speed three furlongs further than he’s ever gone before to win for the third time in four starts.

Perfect in two tries over this turf course and with a pair of wins at the distance, Dhaamer drops out of graded stakes company looking for a Round Table repeat. The six-year-old Irish-bred son of Dubai Destination made his 2013 debut on dirt for the first time resulting in a sixth-place finish, but has four exacta finishes from five turf starts in the U.S.

It would appear that Rafael Bejarano may have had the choice between favored Dhaamer and 2-to-1 second choice Lime Rickey, deciding to stick with the latter for the sixth straight time. The seven-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid made his local stakes debut in his last when checking in with a solid fourth-place finish in the San Juan Capistrano (Grade 2) going a quarter of a mile further and has a win and a third from two starts at this marathon distance.

Up the coast by the Bay, Egyptian Femme tries her luck in the starter allowance condition for the eighth time. The presence of Russell Baze in the irons for the first time adds to our confidence that she can finally break through after a long string of in the money finishes.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 6 (2,4,6,7,8) – A split of race for with bottom-level maiden claimers in an elongated sprint stagger using No. 2 Patriotic Lion, No. 4 Just Irish, No. 6 Caveman Keno, No. 7 Spectacularjourney and No. 8 Vitorio.

Leg 2 – Race 7 (1,5) – Tough to get past the likely match race down the stretch with either No. 1 Lime Rickey or No. 5 Dhaamer.

Leg 3 – Race 8 (1,3,5,6,7) – No. 8 Valkyrie Missile rolled off three straight over Cushion Track last year before being pulled up in a race at Del Mar. He returns ten months later at the same level, but is conspicuously not protected as is allowed.

We’ll pass on him and use class-dropper No. 6 Red Jag and No. 7 Don Perico, along with No. 1 Slycy, No. 4 Afleet Cowboy and No. 5 Jeffrey’s Groove.

Leg 4 – Race 9 (4,5,6,7,8,9) – The week closes with on of the better gambling races of the meet as three-year-old maiden allowance fillies sprint six furlongs on turf and we spread with No. 4 Kanotwait, No. 5 Tizmetizyou, No. 6 Howdoyoufindhered, No. 7 Camryn Kate, No. 8 Blake’s Magic and No. 9 Burns Turn.

Recap – (2,4,6,7,8) w (1,5) w (1,3,5,6,7) w (4,5,6,7,8,9) Total cost of ticket = $150

Yesterday’s Result – (-$160)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,205.05)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (1,2,3,4) – No. 5 Warren’s Lover can’t win, but the other four can so we’ll use No. 1 Pure Blush, No. 2 Cavalla, No. 3 Rolanda and No. 4 Warren’s Lorie S.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (2,5) – Stick with speed on the main track using No. 2 Lucky Student and No. 5 Swimmin Insunshine.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (1,4,6) – Speed has been doing well over the turf, but the front runners in here are both returning from long layoffs and should duel each other out so we’ll look to a trio from off the pace with No. 1 Distant Image, No. 4 Lanida and No. 6 Lemon Hero.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,2,3,8) – The quartet of logicals in this sure to be slow heat with No. 1 Unusual Flash, No. 2 Chico Suerte, No. 3 Real Deal Appeal and No. 8 Ten Tequilas.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (5,6,10) – No. 5 Light of Life notched her lone win when dropping in her third off a layoff and can do so here.

No. 6 Four Better has been knocking on the door and can improve with an upgrade in connections and No. 10 Romantic Wish reunites with Garrett Gomez and can run them down late.

Recap – (1,2,3,4) w (2,5) w (1,4,6) w (1,2,3,8) w (5,6,10) – Total cost of ticket = $144

Yesterday’s Result – (-$240)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,259.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

Scarlet Strike looks to register another win for the Hollendorfer/Bejarano combo.

Three-year-olds in the national spotlight take a breather between the first two jewels of the Triple Crown, but local stakes action sees five males sprinting seven furlongs on the main track in the $70,000 Came Home Stakes and seven fillies at a mile on turf in the $100,000 Senorita Stakes (Grade 3).

A pair of turf tries for 5-to-2 Senorita favorite Scarlet Strike has resulted in a nose defeat in an ungraded stakes and a half-length score in the Providencia Stakes (G3) in her last on April 6.  The outside post can prove tricky trying to save ground into the clubhouse turn, but we’ll expect Rafael Bejarano to tuck the Smart Strike filly in behind the field before uncorking her late run.

In the money in all five career starts including missing by a scant nose in her stateside debut on April 18, Lilbourne Eliza is the 3-to-1 second choice as one of two entered by trainer James Cassidy and owner Deron Pearson. The Irish-bred daughter of Elusive City returned with a pair of steady five-furlong drills and could find herself clearing away on the early lead.

Disko Dasko is the other Cassidy and stretches out for the first time in her career as the 5-to-1 co-third choice off a pair of solid efforts rallying from mid-pack coming down the hill at Santa Anita. With speed rider Edwin Maldonado taking over aboard the French-bred daughter of Country Reel it will be interesting to see what tactics are employed with her stable mate having sights on going to the front.

Also at 5-to-1 is Need You Now, who made her U.S. debut by finishing just behind Disko Dasko in fifth on April 15 in the Runway Stakes at Santa Anita. We’ll expect the Irish-bred filly by Keleyf to improve with that race in tow for Mike Mitchell and she did beat Lilbourne Eliza when winning a stakes to close her juvenile campaign in Great Britain last year.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 6 (1,4,6,8) – No. 8 Scarlet Strike will be tough to deny, but at a short price we try and beat her with No. 1 Lilbourne Eliza, No. 4 Disko Dasko and No. 6 Need You Now.

Leg 2 – Race 7 (2,3,4,6,7) – No. 4 Spectrus is a live long shot with improvement expected in his second career start for John Shirreffs against what appears to be a modest maiden allowance group.

Spread with No. 2 Stormin Lute, No. 3 Spirited Touch, No. 6 A Red Tie Day and No. 7 Major Affair.

Leg 3 – Race 8 (1,2,4,7) – Salty turf sprinters where we use a quartet of closers with No. 1 Royal F J, No. 2 No Silent, No. 4 Showme Yourfriends and No. 7 Sirocco Strike.

Leg 4 – Race 9 (2,3,4,13) – Bottom barrel maiden claimers close the show and we’ll use four with No. 2 Dark Timbers, No. 3 Billy Win, No. 4 Decarchy’s Trieste and No. 13 The Gatekeeper.

Recap – (1,4,6,8) w (2,3,4,6,7) w (1,2,4,7) w (2,3,4,13) Total cost of ticket = $160

Yesterday’s Result – (-$3.90)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,045.05)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (4,5) – No. 5 Ondine can get the 3,000 milestone win for Bejarano out of the way early, but we’ll double up and use the “other” Baffert No. 4 Black Witch as well.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (3,4,6,8) – No. 4 Broker Brett and No. 8 Brother Pete have the best form in turf sprints, but if they can transfer their dirt game to the green No. 3 Incline Village and No. 6 Concorde West are dangerous.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (1,2,3) – No. 1 Let Em Shine has been freaky in his last two wins and red-hot connections use the uncommon tactic of putting a pair of mile works into him in hopes of getting the elongated sprint distance of the Came Home Stakes.

Speed has done well on the main track this week, but we’ll ad No. 2 Belvin and No. 3 Treasury Bill to run down the pace-setter late having already been battled tested in graded stakes action.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,3,6,7) – No. 3 Mr. Make Believe can get the perfect trip stalking the speed of No. 7 Oak Kye Why, who shows a limited work tab for his first try in over a year and should tire, but has the potential to run back to his previous form that’s seen him win three times and finish in the money in 70% of his ten starts.

No. 1 So Elite has been better on synthetics than turf, but at a big number is worth inclusion and No. 6 Tiz Argent woke up at a big number last time and can win right back.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (3,4,5,10,13) – Non-winners of two slugs and we go five deep in hopes of cashing our first decent score in a while with No. 3 Broadway Nika, No. 4 Catquest, No. 5 Smokenomore, No. 10 Prime Number and No. 13 Chibita.

Recap – (4,5) w (3,4,6,8) w (1,2,3) w (1,3,6,7) w (3,4,5,10,13) – Total cost of ticket = $240

Yesterday’s Result – (-$108)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,019.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

The turf course sees a trio of sprints on a Friday afternoon card.

The redundancy is getting tired with mini-sized weekday fields now the norm and not the exception as we plow through another card where five of the eight races have less than six starters including the featured first-level $40,000 allowance optional claimer for older runners at 1 1/16-miles on the main track.

On the day where the Cal-bred Bertrando colt I purchased last October blitzes an eighth of a mile preview at Fairplex, the lone bright spot on the card is a split of a six-furlong grass allowance for Cal-bred maidens that saw 19 runners entered.

Nabbing a price in each of these races is likely the only way to getting any kind of return today.

In the third, 9-to-2 fourth choice Art Official can shake things up a bit in his third career start. The son of prolific turf sire Unusual Heat tried the downhill turf course twice at Santa Anita, improving from a debut sixth-place finish to run fourth beaten just two lengths on April 6.

We’ll look to blow things up in the finale with 30-to-1 long shot Catcanscat, who ran third against open company in his only try sprinting over this turf course. The four-year-old Tale of the Hills colt moves from one bug boy to another with Jose Delgadillo looking for his first win in Southern California after beginning his career with brief stints at Portland Meadows and Golden Gate Fields.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 5 (2,4,5) – The third turf sprint on the card, this one a first-level allowance where we use half the six runners with No. 2 U S Citizen, No. 4 Fast N Furious Cat and No. 5 Zuboff.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,3,5,6,7) – Five of the seven runners in this $50,000 maiden claimer with No. 1 Tizaplayer, No. 3 Cast a Doubt, No. 5 Colossians, No. 6 Annunaki and No. 7 Blue Cherokee.

Leg 3 – Race 7 (5,6) – We’re left with just five runners in the aforementioned feature and use the logical pair exiting a near-misses in a similar race at this level with No. 5 Call Me Kelly and No. 6 Half Strike.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (1,6,7,8,9) – Along with bomber No. 9 Catcanscat, spread with No. 1 Heat Flash, No. 6 Ambitious Brew, No. 7 Troy Story and No. 8 U’narack.

Recap – (2,4,5) w (1,3,5,6,7) w (5,6) w (1,6,7,8,9) Total cost of ticket = $75

Yesterday’s Result – (-$67.50)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,041.15)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (2) – Protected on his return, No. 2 Cook Inlet win nicely and can come right back from off the pace and pull the repeat.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (ALL) – Difficult to find positives for any of these bottom-level claiming females so we’ll hope for a tote board blow up as they stagger home in this 7 ½-furlong “sprint” that starts in front of Costco’s parking lot.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (4,5,8,9) – We’ll cheer for the longest price of the logical contenders with No. 9 Art Official while also using the trio that’s shorter priced with No. 4 Follini, No. 5 Tribal Dude and No. 8 Dreamnofatticus.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (3,4,5) – A rough group of three-year-old fillies in for $20,000 where again we use half the six runners with No. 3 O Happy Gray, No. 4 Gloryandprayer and No. 5 Jesse’s Giacomo.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,4,5) – Same trio as late Pick-4.

Recap – (2) w (ALL) w (4,5,8,9) w (3,4,5) w (2,4,5) – Total cost of ticket = $108

Yesterday’s Result – (-$192)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$911.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

Patrons will be greeted to this sign if they try and come through Hollywood Park's turn stiles next year.

As first reported this morning by Christina Blacker of HRTV, the end of the road is for all intents and purposes official for Hollywood Park after management issued a letter to their employees stating they will not request live racing dates for 2014. The final day of racing in Inglewood will come with the conclusion of this year’s autumn meet on December 22.

It’s been at times a great run for the track of the lakes and flowers, but not so over the last decade with a dilapidated building, declining product and scarce attendance. Let’s hope the racing industry can turn this into a positive wake-up call with additional dates for Santa Anita and Del Mar and a resolution to the expansion of either Fairplex Park or Los Alamitos.

A four-horse field to start the week and a pair of allowance optional claiming races that have just five runners further illustrate the circuit’s continuing deficiencies.

Slotted as the featured seventh race is a second-level $62,500 allowance optional claimer for older females traveling 1 1/16-miles on Cushion Track chasing a purse of $57,000.

Exiting a fourth-place finish beaten two lengths in the Wilshire Handicap (Grade 3) on April 28, Esentepe is the 6-to-5 morning line favorite. Rafael Bejarano climbs aboard for the first time in the fourth U.S. start for the four-year-old Irish-bred Oratorio filly trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

A winner in nearly half of her 20 career starts and 8-of-15 on a synthetic surface, Sister Glady Oh La is the 2-to-1 second choice looking to snap a three-race losing streak to begin 2013. Having won this condition three times at Golden Gate, the five-year-old daughter of Strong Hope is the only one of the five runners in for the tag making her second start in Southern California off a third-place finish at Santa Anita  in an ungraded stakes on dirt.

In search of her first win since January of last year, Jim Rome’s Miss Radiance is the longest shot in the field at 8-to-1 with Alonso Quinonez in the irons for the first time. The five-year-old Yes It’s True mare tries her third different surface in as many starts in 2013 and has finished off the board in two previous tries over this main track.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,7,8) – The recipe for success is evident for No. 8 Ghost N Your Heart looking to win for the fourth straight time in her first start of a form cycle sprinting on this main track.

No. 1 I’m Tops should be set for her first in the third off the layoff after knocking hard in Nor Cal last year and No. 7 Oblivion tumbles in class off the long layoff while being a perfect 2-for-2 in synthetic sprints.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,5,7) – Loads of early speed signed on for this turf dash so we prefer comebackers No. 1 Pretty Darn Quick and No. 5 Awesome Indy that can win from off the pace.

No. 7 Johnny Be Mine is preferred from the quartet of front-runners.

Leg 3 – Race 7 (ALL) – No. 5 Plaza de Indias might have the pace advantage so she’s worth inclusion and we can’t leave off just one so we’ll use them all.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (4,5,8) – No. 4 Dow Diva has held the lead late in her last two and can finally break through today.

Add No. 5 Kylee’s Star and No. 8 Krazypapaya.

Recap – (1,7,8) w (1,5,7) w (ALL) w (4,5,8) Total cost of ticket = $67.50

Sunday’s Result – (-$200)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$973.65)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – Short fields that are difficult to decipher beginning with these three-year-old claimers where we use all four.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (1,2,3,4,5,6) – The first local claiming heat of 2013 for juveniles and we’ll use all but the two outside runners with No. 1 Time for a Memory, No. 2 Divine Way, No. 3 Audrey Rules, No. 4 Time to Be a Hero, No. 5 Sweet G and No. 6 Pleasant Miss.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (1,3,5,6) – No. 6 Democrat Duck has improved in each turf start and goes for connections that continue to sizzle.

No. 1 Pure Loyalty won his turf debut after running up against classy three-year-old on the main track and No. 3 Square Dancer is back with his age group after beating elders in his last.

No. 5 Horizon Sky stretches out for the first time in his career and makes his third U.S. start after the ultimate equipment change.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (2,5,7,8) – More juveniles, this time the first heat that could produce some stakes types with the likeliest being No. 2 Alpine Luck, No. 5 Willie B Awesome, No. 7 Raise the Hoof and No. 8 Street Icon.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (8) – Single No. 8 Ghost N Your Heart.

Recap – (ALL) w (1,2,3,4,5,6) w (1,3,5,6) w (2,5,7,8) w (8) – Total cost of ticket = $192

Sunday’s Result – (-$108)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$719.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

A minor setback leaves Teddy's Promise in search of a Time To Leave repeat.

Yes, there is racing after the Kentucky Derby and before the Preakness Stakes in two weeks where Orb tries to take the next step to the Triple Crown.

Sunday’s feature lands early in the card in the middle of the Pick-5 sequence with females dashing five furlongs in the $70,000 Time To Leave Stakes where Teddy’s Promise is the 7-to-5 morning line favorite in search of a repeat. Breaking from the rail in last year’s edition, the five-year-old Cal-bred daughter of SaltLake looped the field from last to win by half a length.

A foot bruise that led to her being scratched from last weekend’s more lucrative $125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes has been played down by Ron Ellis, but makes stomaching a short price even more difficult despite her previous graded stakes success.

Since returning from a long layoff with a smart win at Santa Anita, 3-to-1 second choice Shumoos has been over matched in a pair of graded stakes tries, including finishing well behind Teddy’s Promise when running third in the Las Flores Stakes (Grade 3). The pricey Pennsylvania-bred four-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor began her career in Great Britain where she did win a Group 3 race at Kempton over a synthetic surface.

Co –third choices at 4-to-1, both Magical Band and Hidinginplainsight can upset if the favorite isn’t at her best.

Accustomed to pressing the pace, Magical Band found herself at the back of the pack shortly after the break in her last and despite pulling hard to get to the lead had enough in the tank to hold on by a nose against second-level allowance foes. The four-year-old Dixie Union filly makes her stakes debut with leading rider Rafael Bejarano back aboard for the first time in five starts.

Hidinginplainsight returns to Southern California after a successful stakes debut that saw her wire the Camilo Urso at Golden Gate two months ago. That ended a string of seconditis for the four-year-old Elusive Quality filly that has finished as the runner-up in half her ten career starts.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 6 (2,4,7,10) – The Bob Baffert debuters for his top clients, No. 2 Imperial Fortune and No. 10 Everton, look tough as usual.

Ellis hits at 33% second time and will hope No. 2 Drover Crazy isn’t caught behind another Baffert monster as he was in his debut.

No. 7 Mi Hijo can prove another astute private purchase by Pete Miller and the Barbers.

Leg 2 – Race 7 (4,5,6,7) – Bejarano also takes over on No. 5 Apostle Paul and could get him over the hump off a pair of runner-up efforts, but we’ll add the trio of No. 4 Niagara Falls, No. 6 Moreno and No. 7 Prince Telemachus.

Leg 3 – Race 8 (1,2,3,5,6) – No. 1 Royal Meridian ran well enough in his return and can improve her to win over a track he’s run well over.

It’s still a spread with Sadler’s New Yorkers No. 2 Gallant Fields and No. 6 Black N Beauty along with the consistent No. 5 Relentless Heat and speedy No. 3 Patriot’s Voyage.

Leg 4 – Race 9 (5,6,7,8,11) – Close the week with three-year-old maiden claiming fillies at the bottom use No. 5 Mezzanotte, No. 6 Hedy, No. 7 My Pal Ariana, No. 8 Rosies Rascal and No. 11 Proud Bok.

Recap – (2,4,7,10) w (4,5,6,7) w (1,2,3,5,6) w (5,6,7,8,11) Total cost of ticket = $200

Yesterday’s Result – (-$82.65)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$773.65)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – Where’s a closer when you need one? Not one here to pick up the pieces.

No. 3 One World has been facing much tougher and his win came from just off the pace, but the for sale tag is glaring so we’ll punch the all button.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (3) – No. 3 Streets of Heaven regains the services of Bejarano and the grizzled pro can get back in the winner’s circle off a pair of runner-up efforts.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,3,6,7) – No. 3 Teddy’s Promise scratched out of a much more lucrative spot against Cal-breds last weekend making her a question mark at a short price.

Lots of speed signed on, but drawn outside No. 6 Magical Band and No. 7 Hidinginplainsight have an advantage and the ability to stalk and upset.

No. 2 Shumoos stacks up with the favorite class wise.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,2,7) – No. 1 R Doubleday has been consistent except for one try and holds a pace advantage off the brief respite.

Tab No. 2 Warrens Venedalucy as a potential upsetter protected off the layoff and having won in her last try on Cushion Track.

No. 7 Arinyes Love always gets herself in the mix and has show the ability to lay close.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,4,5) – No. 2 The Whole Deal has a breathing issue, but can get a sprint and has turned into a hard-knocker at this level.

There is other speed signed on which can work in the favor of No. 4 One Firm Cat, whose lone win came when rallying in a turf sprint.

No. 5 Too Fast to Pass won three times in Florida and was purchased by solid local connections.

Recap – (ALL) w (3) w (2,3,6,7) w (1,2,7) w (2,4,5) – Total cost of ticket = $108

Yesterday’s Result – (-$200)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$611.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

Goldencents can give his connections the ultimate winner's circle party.

Doug O’Neill bears the weight of California’s hopes on his shoulders to Louisville, Ky. looking for consecutive wins in the $2 million Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) with the lone local entrant in 5-to-1 third choice Goldencents.

Already a repeat winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) after Goldencents was able to bounce back with an impressive win after disappointing in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), O’Neill’s Run for the Roses again comes with a jockey getting his first big break.

Kevin Krigger has been aboard Goldencents in all six of his starts, crossing the wire first on four occasions and earning $1.25 million. Krigger carries the weight of history in his maiden Derby voyage looking to become the first African-American jockey to win in 111 years.

The most famous horse race in the world is also the most difficult to handicap. Never again will these horses travel 1 ¼-miles in a full field of 19 with so much on the line.

Add to that an off-track and it’s anybody’s guess who triumphs under the Twin Spires. Read enough opinions and you’ll find positives for every runner.

We’ll focus on four as our preference with 7-to-2 morning line favorite Orb, 10-to-1 fourth choice Revolutionary and 15-to-1 shots Overanalyze and Itsmyluckyday.

Orb has looked super impressive in a pair of wins at Gulfstream Park and if Itsmyluckyday wasn’t cranked up when running behind him in the Florida Derby (G1) can turn the tables.

With John Velazquez opting to stick with 4-to-1 second choice Verrazano, Joel Rosario climbs back aboard Orb. The Dominican Dandy became a fan-favorite rising to the top of the local jock colony and has taken that success to the next level since moving his tack east last year.

With his departure, Rafael Bejarano’s dominance locally has solidified and he rides Overanalyze after being aboard for the first time in his smashing Arkansas Derby (G1) win.

Revolutionary enters off three straight wins and acquires the services of Calvin Borel for the first time. Borel doesn’t win a whole lot of races, but can never be dismissed in the Derby after winning three times in the last six years.

Bob Baffert is without a Derby runner, but he does send half the field in the local feature with Guilt Trip, Liaison and Blueskiesnrainbows in the $150,000 Mervyn Leroy Handicap (G2) for older runners at 1 1/16-miles on Cushion Track.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 8 (1,2,6,9,10,11,13) – A wide-open maiden allowance sprint for three-year-old fillies and we employ a massive spread with No. 1 Sunbaked, No. 2 Fashion Secret, No. 6 Bridgehampton, No. 9 Donelle, No. 10 Provenance, No. 11 Rosies Ready and No. 13 Disco Lemonade.

Leg 2 – Race 9 (3,4,7,11) – Baffert runs No. 4 Midnight Interlude down their throats and he’ll be tough to deny at a short price, but we’ll try for an upset with No. 3 Lamm, No. 7 Alley Hondro and No. 11 Arraignment.

Leg 3 – Race 10 (3,4,6) – John Sadler sends No. 5 Vagabond Shoes as a rabbit to keep the pace honest and set things up for our top pick No. 6 Kettle Corn.

Add two of the Baffert’s that can win from off the pace with No. 3 Guilt Trip and No. 4 Liaison.

Leg 4 – Race 11 (3,4,6,11) – Four deep to close the marathon day with No. 3 Wise Boss, No. 4 Public Defender, No. 6 End of Time and No. 11 Lico.

Recap – (1,2,6,9,10,11,13) w (3,4,7,11) w (3,4,6) w (3,4,6,11) Total cost of ticket = $168

Yesterday’s Result – (-$160)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$691)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (1) – No. 1 Miss Pippa catches a much weaker first-level allowance field than what she’s faced in her last two and rallied last time despite a wide post and falling way behind the field. She’s drawn better today and has been forwardly placed in her other starts and it would be a big surprise to see her not win at a short price.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (1,4,5,9) – If No. 9 Sudden Kick has any talent she can win on debut against this bottom-level maiden claiming bunch.

No. 1 Hello Stormy has speed and returns to a surface where she’s run best, No. 4 Mint Twist plummets to the bottom and No. 5 Speedy Vixen is improving ever so slightly and can pass runners late.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,4,5,6,8) – The pace should be heated so we’ll toss favorite No. 1 Woebegon stuck inside it and with the trainer drop off post claim.

Instead, use No. 2 Mary Contrary, No. 4 J and S Express, No. 5 Tribalicious, No. 6 Power of Nine and No. 8 Addendum.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,2,4,7) – No. 4 Lake Maracaibo wins if she runs back to her efforts from last year, but the layoff is long so we’ll add the trio of No. 1 Perfect Package, No. 2 Blingismything and No. 7 Princess of Pearl.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,2,3,5,6) – Loads of speed in the $70,000 Cool Frenchy blitzing five furlongs on the main track and we’ll use five with No. 1 Maui Mark, No. 2 Centralinteligence, No. 3 Ain’t No Other, No. 5 Italian Rules and No. 6 Comma to the Top.

Recap – (1) w (1,4,5,9) w (2,4,5,6,8) w (1,2,4,7) w (1,2,3,5,6) – Total cost of ticket = $200

Yesterday’s Result – (-$128)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$411.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!

Midnight Lucky should be up to her first challenge in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

A typical ho-hum weekday card locally has our attention focused on a tremendous edition of the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) over 1 1/8-miles on the Churchill Downs main track where the ten three-year-old fillies set to throw down have combined to win a staggering 34-of-57 (nearly 60%).

Without a pony in the show tomorrow, Bob Baffert hopes to make his imprint on the weekend today by winning his third Oaks and second in three years with 9-to-2 fourth choice Midnight Lucky, a perfect 2-for-2 in her career winning by a combined 15 ¼-lengths. The Midnight Lute filly has barely broken a sweat jogging to both wins as an odds-on favorite and has looked impeccable over the Churchill Downs strip in preparation for the Oaks.

Local dynamo Rafael Bejarano is back aboard looking to win the Oaks for the second time in four years after scoring with Blind Luck in 2010.

Dreaming of Julia is installed as the 3-to-1 morning line favorite entering off a performance that eclipsed Midnight Lucky’s winning margins when demolishing five others by 21 ¾-lengths in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The A.P. Indy filly, one of four entered by Todd Pletcher, earned a whopping 114 Beyer for that effort and makes her third start of 2013, but in her third start as a two-year-old after romping by over 16 lengths in an ungraded stakes regressed when battling to win by a head against just three rivals in the Frizette (G1).

Aiming to win his third Oaks, Pletcher sends another looking to extend her perfection with Unlimited Budget. Also listed at 7-to-2 off four wins to begin her career, the last three coming in graded stakes, the daughter of Street Sense has improved with each start and should relish the added ground making a rally from mid-pack.

The Pletcher quartet is rounded out by 20-to-1 long shots Silista, who has done her best running on turf and synthetic, and Princess of Sylmar, who saw her four-race win streak snapped in her graded stakes debut in the Gazelle (G2) on April 6.

Two-year-old champion Beholder will be winging on the lead again as the co-second choice at 7-to-2 looking to stretch the distance capabilities further than her pedigree by Henny Hughes suggests. Unchallenged on the lead in her last four wins, there should be sufficient pressure early to force her to go faster than she wants.

With Flashy Gray scratched, Bill Mott is left one chance at his first Oaks with 6-to-1 shot Close Hatches, yet another entering with an unblemished record having won each of her three starts in decisive fashion. Joel Rosario is back aboard in search of his first win in the biggest race on the first Friday in May hoping to continue his electrifying run of success that has seen him win with nearly 50% of his mounts through the first few days of the meet coming off having shattered the wins record for the Keeneland spring meeting.

We’re off to the races!

Late Pick 4 -

Leg 1 – Race 5 (2,6,7,8) – No. 7 On the Fence gets a big rider upgrade to Tyler Baze off his maiden win and can score right back at a nice price.

Also use the trio of No. 2 Waitwaitdonttellme, No. 6 Turn On the Pumps and No. 8 Russel’s Run.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (3,7,8,10) – Can’t figure the 20-to-1 morning line price on No. 7 Fiscal Cliff out of solid debut sire In Excess against a modest group.

Add three with decent enough previous efforts with No. 3 Surf N Ski, No. 8 Single Launch and No. 10 Itsalwayssomething.

Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,3,4,5) – No. 4 Manado will be a miniscule price so we’ll add No. 1 Greeley’s Awesome, No. 3 Saint Prado and No. 5 Chief Havoc.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (1,5,7,9) – A solid maiden allowance to close the day and we use five more with No. 1 Quality Plan, No. 5 Rocabar, No. 6 Okaad, No. 7 Tenkiller Kid and No. 9 Airfoil.

Recap – (2,6,7,8) w (3,7,8,10) w (1,3,4,5) w (1,5,6,7,9) Total cost of ticket = $160

Yesterday’s Result – (-$120)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$531)

Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)

Pick 5 –

Leg 1 – Race 1 (1,2,3,6) – No. 1 Ninnavee has the experience edge and the speed to flee the rail, but the comeback is quit and she had things her own way last time so we’ll use the other logical debuters with No. 2 Patty Whack, No. 3 E Equalsmcsquared and No. 6 Time for Angie.

Leg 2 – Race 2 (1,2,3,7) – No. Anythingscookin notched is only win in wire-to-wire fashion in his only try on Cushion Track and can pull the feat again if left alone.

Spread with No. 1 Affrettando, No. 3 Bipartisan and No. 7 Soi Phet.

Leg 3 – Race 3 (1) – After a solid effort against tougher last time, No. 1 Thermal Nermal is back at the level she won two back and can control things from flag to fall again with no other speed signed on.

Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,4,5,6) – A rough group that has never won twice where we add long shot No. 1 Holiday Rose to the three top choices in No. 4 Hidden Passion, No. 5 Mangita and No. 6 Grand Corredora.

Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,6,7,8) – Same quartet as late Pick-4.

Recap – (1,2,3,6) w (1,2,3,7) w (1) w (1,4,5,6) w (2,6,7,8) – Total cost of ticket = $128

Yesterday’s Result – (-$135)

Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$283.65)

Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)

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!