7/6/13 Hollywood Park Late Pick Four - Preview

Moving my attention back to SoCal from New York City, as  I decided that the move convenient Post Times and the virtually always the same weather that Southern California offers trumps the more bettor-friendly NYRA tracks.  Hopefully, someday soon, the SoCal tracks will lower their breakage, along with their minimum wagers for Doubles and WPS; lest I find myself changing my mind yet again.  But anyway, today we're looking at the final four races at Hollywood Park.

RACE 7 - Clm $16k N2L - Six Furlongs Synthetic

# 2 Knucklebuster (Morning Line 7-2) seems to have perked up for new trainer Marty Jones, breaking his maiden in his initial try last time out for the new barn.  

# 4 Forever Freedom (ML 5-1) comes back against easier competition after a twelve month vacation for connections that click 18% of the time (with a positive ROI) with entrants returning from a long rest.  

# 9 Prime Number (ML 5-1) has been knocking at the door at this level in each of his three starts this year; expect him to be in the mix at the wire.

RACE 8 - Alw $50k N1X - Eight Furlongs Turf

# 1 Swift Eagle (ML 5-2) lost the photo in two of his last three races, with Beyers that should get the job done today.  

# 4 Super Ability (ML 2-1) was victorious two back against state bred stakes company, giving him two Wins and two Places in his four races so far in 2013.  Super Ability's five career starts have been two sprints; followed by a win going eight furlongs on grass; followed by two sprints; a pattern with which trainer Carla Gaines seems to do rather well.  

# 8 American Tanker (ML 6-1) makes his first start of the year today, having broken his maiden his last time out in his first turf route.  American Tanker has a late running style that may do well today against this field filled with rabbits.

RACE 9 - The Hollywood Gold Cup (Grade 1) - Ten Furlongs Synthetic

Can’t see any way to play against # 2 Game On Dude (ML 4-5) in the 74th and final running of the Hollywood Gold Cup.  # 1 Clubhouse Ride (ML 2-1) is Game On Dude’s closest competitor in this field, having finished just a half length behind The Dude in The Charles Town Classic before winning The Californian Stakes last time out.  But Clubhouse Ride prefers to come from behind, so he’ll need some pace to run at; and I don’t see anyone in this field who can challenge The Dude in the early going on the front end.

Grade 1 races are won by Grade 1 horses; and there’s no denying Game On Dude’s credentials as a Grade 1 champion. 

RACE 10 - Md $20k - Six Furlongs Synthetic

# 2 Dramatic Allan (ML 4-1) took the Place at this level last time out.  He may prove to be the speed of the speed in this one.  

# 5 Cosmic Heat (ML 9-2) drops in class while making his first start for conditioner Jeff Mullins, who wins 23% of the time his first time with a runner.

# 14 Super Dice (ML 7-2) goes for a cheaper tag but switches from state-bred to open company; may be a drop, may be a wash; but, either way, his Beyers say that he belongs.

# 16 Eddie Better (ML 15-1) deserves a mulligan for his last start, his first try back after being away for a year.  Eddie Better will get some class relief today, and his Dst Tomlinson Rating shows that today's six furlongs is right in his wheelhouse.  The presence of Eddie Maldonado in the saddle adds to the appeal.

I've spread a little wider than I generally prefer in my play today; but I feel justified in doing so as I reacquaint myself with the SoCal thoroughbred scene.  So with that, here are the late Pick Four tickets that I'll be putting in today:

Play this one for one dollar:

RACE 7: 2

RACE 8: 1, 4

RACE 9: 2

RACE 10: 2

Cost: $2.00

Play these for fifty cents:

RACE 7: 2, 4, 9

RACE 8: 1, 4

RACE 9: 2

RACE 10: 2, 5, 14, 16

Cost: $12.00

RACE 7: 1, 3, 12

RACE 8: 1, 4

RACE 9: 2

RACE 10: 2, 5, 14, 16

Cost: $12.00

RACE 7: 2, 4, 9

RACE 8: 2, 8

RACE 9: 2

RACE 10: 2, 5, 14, 16

Cost: $12.00

RACE 7: 2, 4, 9

RACE 8: 1, 4

RACE 9: 2

RACE 10: 4, 10, 11

Cost: $9.00

TOTAL COST: $47.00

Post Time for Race 7 is 7:06 EDT / 4:06 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo