The chance to gaze at the beauty of Del Mar from high in its grandstand is right around the corner.
As the cards go from bad to worse to awful to unwatchable we day dream about the paradise that lies ahead at Del Mar in 12 days.
Only five horses go in the feature and the most runners entered in any race on Friday night’s deplorable program is nine.
The only positive note is that with Iration in concert there should be a good on-track crowd with the majority of them not knowing the difference between good and bad racing.
The recent news that Madison Square Garden has purchased the Forum has led to speculation that the end for Hollywood Park might be near if the entire area finally gets rejuvenated with new residential and commercial space.
Sadly, there would be few disappointed in such an outcome, but ironically, it would result in the end for what’s widely-regarded as the best, safest main track in Southern California.
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (2,3,5) – No.2 Nofty has finished as the runner-up twice at the meet and probably found the group for this level where he can get over the hump.
His stable mate No. 5 Mr. Ornery tries to make it two wins to start his career and No. 3 Blue Jay Attack rolls late.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,6,7,8) – We might actually be able to sneak in a price here with No. 8 Roheryn Strider having the potential to be lone speed with Edwin Maldanado back aboard.
Yuichi Fukunaga also has a chance to get a win with No. 6 Nearly Was Mine returning off a long layoff and both No. 1 Cheezy Breezy and No. 7 Tiz Victorious have been knocking on the door since February.
Leg 3 – Race 7 (1,3) – No. 1 Pink Blossom is likely to clear and with average runners behind her may be able to lead all the way.
No. 3 Bella’s Fantasy is trained by Bob Baffert. That’s all she has going for her off a pair of bad performances at the meet, but it might be enough.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (1,2,3,7,8,9) – This race will probably be won by either No. 2 Full’s Figurehead or No. 7 Queen Mercury, but we’ll hope for an upset from No. 1 Kentucky Tale, No. 3 Torre Italiana, No. 8 Addendum or No. 9 Bursquel.
Recap – (2,3,5) w (1,6,7,8) w (1,3) w (1,2,3,7,8,9) – Total cost of ticket = $72
Yesterday’s Result – (-$144)
Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$1,863.55)
Total from 12/26/10 – 4/22/12 – (+$588.70)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (6) – Odds-on to start a card moves to the extreme with No. 6 Missdealornodeal likely 1-to-9 in a race she should dominate.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (4) – No. 4 Lika’s last two races over this main track make her a winner against this lousy group. She’s back with non-winners of two lifetime after facing open company in her last four.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (ALL) – That was a weak race on June 7 that the three favorites exit and No. 3 Hotradamus, No. 5 Deep Play and No. 6 Raya Roja seem more enticing despite not having two-turn experience.
Long shot No. 4 Cee Cee Seattle ran a race atGolden Gatethat puts him in the mix so we punch the all.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (2,4,6,7) – No. 2 Streets of Heaven towers over this group if he’s anywhere near the form when last seen a year ago.
If not, No. 2 Striking Spirit might be tough to catch on the front end on the drop in class.
No. 4 Belo Purse and No. 6 Brady Blue Eyes are also worth inclusion.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (2,3,5) – Same trio as late Pick-4.
Recap – (6) w (4) w (ALL) w (2,4,6,7) w (2,3,5) – Total cost of ticket = $42
Yesterday’s Result – (-$90)
Total for current Hollywood Park spring/summer meet – (-$333.60)
Total from 7/20/11 – 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!
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For more Hollywood Park action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.
Good luck!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy Friday my friend!
You know I love your blog, but enough with the negativity. Cheer up buddy. Live in the present. The sun is shining out there, and you are in one of the only parts of the country that isn’t experiencing oppressive heat. Yes – the fields are small… but let’s look at the positives. For people like you and me (who can’t seem to connect on any of these multi’s – I’m down about $700 for the meet) we can scale down our tickets tonight with the small – but I feel evenly matched fields – and still hope to make a small score. Let’s build some positive momentum going into tomorrow’s Gold Cup card and the Del Mar/Saratoga Meets. Like you mentioned, only 12 days until Del Mar!!! 14 until Saratoga… and for me – a horse player stuck in the ultra-conservative bible belt – 15 days until I drive up to Colonial Downs for the Virginia Derby and 21 days until I go up to Saratoga for my week-long pilgamige to Saratoga! Maybe not the best card ever put together, but I for one will enjoy it.
In regards to the news about Hollywood Park, I’ve been reading about news like this for years… yet every year, Hollywood park seems to still stick around. What makes this weeks news any different? What makes the “undeveloped land” across the the Forum and next to LAX so great in the eyes of developers? If Hollywood Park does in fact close, what would happen to So.Cal racing? Does the Santa Anita meet just extend into the summer?
Yo,
I’m in a good mood, but I have a higher standard of expectation for the quality of racing in So Cal. Just disappoints me that it’s not what it should be day in and day out. So, I got some venting out, but I won’t do it again.
You’re right that it’s still nice to have the ponies to enjoy even if they are small fields with not the best horses. Too bad we couldn’t get a better price on Roheryn Strider. I guess the word was out.
The poor economy is the only thing that’s saved HP so far. Who knows if MSG buying the Forum will finally mean the end or not. Just like who knows if L.A. will ever get a football team. Lots of talk. Little action. The area isn’t the greatest but the amount of land is vast and the majority of it is wasted by empty parking lots. There are quite a few newer shopping malls in the area so you figure eventually that trend will continue. If there was no HP Santa Anita would definitely benefit with many more racing days.
Enjoy your upcoming trips and get lucky at the windows.
Looks like you will hit the P4… at least you have very nice coverage in the last. I didn’t cover Baffert in the 7th in both P3 and P4 – amateur move on my part… that partnered with leaving “If it is a Friday night, it must be Iggy” off my early pick 4, and I am nearing “Tapioka” on my online account. Left enough to take a decent stab at the late P4 tomorrow however.
Hey – I can understand the venting. If I called the shots at HP, I would have ran a 9 race card Wednesday, and gone dark on Thursday, so I could have full fields on Friday. My only point (again – I love your blog and opinions) is that your blog represents chance for everyone to get close to So. Cal racing – especially for those like myself on the East Coast who are many miles away from the action. Just like in NY – where today at Belmont there was non stop maiden racing – there can be a lot to complain about… but I think it is important to focus on the positive. Clearly – you love this game as much as I do. You have a blog that I promise is viewed by more than just myself. As such – I think there is an obligation to paint racing in a good light as much as possible for all of our best interests… Hey – like Spiderman once said… “with great power, comes great responsiblity.”
Hey man… keep the great points coming. Great blog buddy!
Again, I agree with you and want to be an ambassador for the sport we love, but sometimes the truth hurts and as a reporter I feel I should cover all angles and say it how it is. We need a lot to change in the sport or else it may not be around for us to enjoy much longer.
Too bad I couldn’t get that place horse up for a nice score in the pick-4. Instead it was a small profit.
Thanks again for the kinds words and readership. Exciting day tomorrow with Gold Cup and my filly in the stake at Pleasanton.