Patrick Valenzuela looks to get things rolling again as we start the second week of racing at Hollywood Park.
The list of top local jockeys in Louisville, Ky. this week for the Kentucky Derby is long, and will get longer with Joe Talamo hopping on a red-eye tonight to ride in tomorrow’s Kentucky Oaks and David Flores heading to Churchill Downs to ride on Saturday.
That leaves the door open for other pilots to win races and potentially secure mounts moving forward.
Victor Espinoza and Patrick Valenzuela have had their fair share of time on racing’s biggest stage, but both are fresh off returning from injury and looking to get back in the groove.
Apprentice Eswan Flores has hit a bit of a rough patch after a blazing start at Santa Anita, but continues to land quality mounts and will win races, while Vinnie Bednar joins him in the bug boy ranks looking to make a name for himself on one of racing’s toughest circuits.
With the top jocks out of town, Alonso Quinonez, Martin Pedroza, Agapito Delgadillo, Chantal Sutherland, Kevin Krigger, Jose Valdivia Jr., Brice Blanc and others will get ample opportunity to find themselves in the winner’s circle over the next three days.
The change of pace talking about riders and not horses is a good indication that there’s not much to the quality of today’s card, but nevertheless we try to grind out some profits as …
We’re off to the races!
Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 5 (1,4,6,8) – The inside posts have the advantage in turf sprints here, but No. 8 Fifth Ave is taking a massive drop in class and has won the last two times she ran fresh so we must use her along with No. 1 So Tempted, No. 4 Blue Samurai and No. 6 Sizzling Gold.
Leg 2 – Race 6 (4,5,7) – No. 5 One Magical Girl is strictly the one to beat with the pace advantage, but we’ll also use No. 4 Warrens Venedalucy off a romping maiden win and the consistent No. 7 I Sense Your Luck .
Leg 3 – Race 7 (2,3,5,7) – The scratch of No. 6 Bwana Babe means No. 3 Let’s Go Cheyenne could find herself on a lonely lead looking for consecutive scores.
No. 2 Secret Cove is likely to be tracking in second and can get first run on closers No. 5 Gem of Soul and No. 7 Anniversary Girl.
Leg 4 – Race 8 (1,3,7,8,13,14) – Our favorite elongated sprint stagger fest for bottom-level maiden claimers and we spread with No. 1 Rocket Train, No. 3 Cheezy Breezy, No. 7 Cheers to Boogie, No. 8 Rude Bobby, No. 13 Ferveo and No. 14 Hava Cigar.
Recap – (1,4,6,8) w (4,5,7) w (2,3,5,7) w (1,3,7,8,13,14) – Total cost of ticket = $144
Sunday’s Result – (-$128)
Total for currentHollywoodParkspring/summer meet – (-$240.45)
Total from 12/26/10-4/22/12 – (+$588.70)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – Use all five runners in the opening turf sprint for $50,000 claimers.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (2,3,5,6) – Four of the six with class-dropping No. 2 Ambitoness, improving No. 3 Real Rockport, new win-machine No. 5 Lisa Lulu and speedy knocker No. 6 Winter Blossom.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (2,5,8) – No. 5 Katy’s Kitty is the top pick returning to her preferred surface, while No. 2 Powers Lilsis and No. 8 R Vicarious Girl have combined for 28 wins.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (3) – Single No. 3 Potesta stretching out after a nice runner-up debut effort when breaking from the rail. Mike Mitchell hits with an obscene 44% of second-time starters.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,4,6,8) – Same four as the late Pick-4.
Recap – (ALL) w (2,3,5,6) w (2,5,8) w (3) w (1,4,6,8) – Total cost of ticket = $120
Sunday’s Result – (-$147)
Total for currentHollywoodParkspring/summer meet – (-$172.25)
Total from 7/20/10-4/22/12 (+$2,150.80)
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For more Hollywood Park action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.
Good luck!
