SANTA ANITA PARK

POST-SCRATCHES

4th: OC/N1X, 3+, 6f (P6, P3, DD)

Lots of speed here and Five Palms figures to get an ideal outside stalking voyage under visiting (My Happy Face; No Jet Lag; Flashback) Rosario..

Most Likely: #8 Five Palms 5-2
Next Best: #9 Big Macher 3-1
Best Value: #2 Got Even 12-1
Exotics Use: #6 Door’s Open 6-1

5th: CLM, 3+, 6.5f-T (P3, DD)

Best Value: #5 Trelawny 6-1
Next Best: #6 Atta Boy Pete 5-1
Exotics Use: #3 Koast 3-1
Super Add: #11 Mambo Man 12-1

6th: 41st La Brea (G1), 3yo-F, 7f (P4, P3, DD)

Sweet Lulu the filly to beat with benefits of pace edge and rail. Would love to try to find a way best her, but should be very tough unless confronted early and often..

Most Likely: #1 Sweet Lulu 8-5
Next Best: # 6 My Happy Face 7-2
Best Value: #2 Heir Kitty 9-2
Exotics Use: #4 Executiveprivlege 4-1

7th: 14th Sir Beaufort (G2), 3yo, 1m-T (P3, DD)

Narrow focus here with favorites — No Jet Lag/Tom’s Tribute — seemingly holding big edge over rest of the cast. Considering that top pair in La Brea should cover you starting the P4, going 2 deep here should set things up well for coverage in the Malibu..

Most Likely: #9 Tom’s Tribute 3-1
Next Best: #8 No Jet Lag 5-2
Best Value: #4 Dice Flavor 12-1
Exotics Use: #1 Outside Nashville 20-1

8th: 62nd Malibu (G1), 3yo, 7f (DD)

Last G1 of the year and always an interesting, competitive cast. One third of group has big speed lined up shoulder to shoulder outside (#’s 9-12) and those looking to rally may need to at least stay in touch with the battling pacesetters because there is always a chance one or two of the frontrunners stay on. I’m looking to the stalkers here which centers around deserving favorite Flashback (7-2). Central Banker (6-1) is the right price to work with from a wagering standpoint..

Best Value: #7 Central Banker 6-1
Next Best: #4 Flashback 7-2
Exotics Use: #5 Zeewat 9-2
Super Add: #3 Heir of Storm 6-1

9th: MCLM/$30k, 2yo, 6.5f (Super Hi-5)

Most Likely: #5 Confisio 7-2
Best Value: #12 Primal Lad 30-1
Next Best: #2 Magna Warrior 6-1
Exotics Use: #8 Mr. Cactus 4-1
Super/Hi-5: #10 New Order 12-1

<$75 P4 Play:

$2.00 pick P4: 1 with 8,9 with 4,5,7 with 5 ($12.00)
$1.00 pick P4: 6 with 8,9 with 4,5,7 with 5 ($6.00)
$1.00 pick P4: 1 with 8,9 with 3,10,11 with 5 ($6.00)
$1.00 pick P4: 1 with 8,9 with 4,5,7 with 2,8,12 ($18.00)
$0.50 pick P4: 2,4,7 with 8,9 with 4,5,7 with 5 ($9.00)
$0.50 pick P4: 1 with 2,4,5,6,7 with 4,5,7 with 5 ($7.50)
$0.50 pick P4: 1 with 8,9 with 2,6,8,9,12 with 5 ($5.00)
$0.50 pick P4: 1 with 8,9 with 4,5,7 with 9,10 ($6.00)

Total: $69.50

Good luck!
Steve

Positively surreal realizing this will be the last time any of us handicap and play at Hollywood Park. I was late in my development as a horseplayer to work the California tracks, but I’ve come to love Hollywood and Santa Anita as venues and am going to miss the Inglewood action as much as anyone. The 2 weeks of ATR Hollywood Memories heightened my own sadness at today’s finale and hope the visits with those that helped write the track’s history contributed to everyone’s appreciation for the oval’s place in the sport’s pantheon. Mandatory payouts in the P5, P6 and Super Hi-5 and of course there was appropriately a carryover to send the Track of Lakes and Flowers into history..

HOLLYWOOD PARK

PRE-SCRATCHES

6th: MCLM/$20k, F&M-3+, 6.5f (P6, P3, DD)

$122k C/O starts here..

Most Likely: #10 Moon Ride 5-2 (A) WON ($4.40)
Best Value: #4 Shandy 8-1 (B) 7th
Next Best: #9 Miss Go Free 6-1 (B) 9th
Exotics Use: #13 Graduator 8-1 (C) 11th

7th: CLM, 3+, 6f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #2 Major Magic 7-2 (A) 6th
Next Best: #8 Dixieland Blues 5-2 (A) 3rd
Exotics Use: #7 Korban 4-1 (B) 4th
Best Value: #4 Gal Has to Like It 8-1 (C) 2nd
Super Add: #9 Big Note 10-1 (C) WON ($25.80)

8th: MSW, 2yo-F, 6f (P4, P3, DD)

Best Value: #7 Gouyen 4-1 (A) 2nd
Next Best: #8 Koukla 3-1 (A) WON ($5.60)
Exotics Use: #6 Zensational Beauty 5-2 (B) 4th
Super Add: #4 Steal the Lute 7-2 (C) 8th

9th: Cal-ALW/N1X, 3+, 8.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #4 PULPIT’S EXPRESS 5-2 (A) 2nd
Best Value: #7 Wings of Mojave 5-1 (B) 7th
Next Best: #6 Volkonsky 4-1 (B) 3rd
Exotics Use: #2 Full Instinct 7-2 (C) 6th

10th: 2nd King Glorious-CA, 2yo, 7f (DD)

Most Likely: #2 Pray Hard 4-1 (A) 3rd
Exotics Use: #9 Aotearoa 5-2 (A) 6th
Super Add: #8 California Chrome 3-1 (B) WON ($6.40)
Consider: #11 Life Is a Joy 8-1 (C) 2nd

11th: S/ALW, 3+, 8.5f-T (Super Hi-5)

Challenging finale to meet and racetrack’s life. Goodbye and thanks to Hollywood Park..

Best Value: #12 Insideondoutside 6-1 (A) 7th
Next Best: #11 Depreciable 7-2 (B) 2nd
Exotics Use: #2 Moonlit Meteor 8-1 (B) 10th
Super Add: #9 Danderek 9-2 (C) 3rd
Hi-5 Play: #5 Woodman’s Luck 6-1 (C) WON ($13.60)

<$150 P6 Play:

6: 4-9-10
7: 2-7-8
8: 7-8
9: 4
10: 2-8-9-11
11: 12

3x3x2x1x4x1 = 72 x $2 = $144

<$50 P4 Play:

8: 4-6-7-8
9: 4
10: 2-8-9-11
11: 2-5-7-9-11-12

4x1x4x6 = 96 x .50 = $48

AQUEDUCT

POST-SCRATCHES

3rd: Damon Runyon-NY, 2yo, 1m-70y (P3, DD)

Agree with Andy Serling’s assertion Tuesday on ATR that if Samraat is engaged early, with stretching sprinter Geaux Mets the likely urger, emergent Deceived, baby brother of Naughty New Yorker, should have every chance to beat him. Turf-to-dirt movers Forever Utopia (Terranova) and Balderdash (Feron) are both from nice families with the Utopia bay being more eligible to like the main track than the grey son of NY-turf stake winner Them There Eyes..

Most Likely: #4 Deceived 9-5 3rd
Next Best: #1 Samraat 6-5 WON ($3.40)
Best Value: #2 Forever Utopia 12-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #6 Geaux Mets 9-2 5th

4th: MCLM/$50k, 3yo, 1m-70y (P6, P3, DD)

$24k C/O starts here..

Jacobson ML fave (Coronate) and Brown/Porter fire sale (Paid $420k for Horsepower) appear obvious but Alysaro, Tony D and Snifter have races on page that can find winner’s circle. Tricky P6 event for budget players…

Most Likely: #2 Coronate 5-2 (A) 3rd
Next Best: #7 Horsepower 7-2 (A) 8th
Best Value: #6 Alysaro 8-1 (B) 7th
Exotics Use: #5 Snifter 4-1 (C) 4th
Super Add: #8 Tony D 8-1 (C) 2nd

5th: OC/S-ALW, F&M-3+, 1m-70y (P4, P3, DD)

Can expect Jacobson will move Persnickity up of Hammy Smith, but be aware that Value Plus filly is stretching out and there’s plenty of pace involved. Sally’s Dream has to be a play against with her main and wet track form considerably below her grass level. All this may be a formula to lean heavily on Lady Gracenote — chased Uno Dou in the Fickle Fanny last week and gets in light here — on your main P6 play. Note that Mess in a Dress, consistent all fall, hit the board in 5 of 7 tries last winter on the inner..

Most Likely: #3 Lady Gracenote 9-5 (A) 3rd
Next Best: #6 Persnickity 7-2 (B) 7th
Best Value: #2 Mess in a Dress 15-1 (C) 6th
Exotics Use: #4 E Z Passer 10-1 (C) 4th

<$75 P5/P4 Play:

1: 3-8
———
2: 2-5
3: 1-2-4
4: 2-6-7
5: 3-6

P5: 2x2x3x3x2 = 72 x .50 = $36
P4: 2x3x3x2 = $36

6th: MCLM/$25k, 2yo, 1m-70y (P4, P3, DD)

This race has a problematic feel to it with 4 stretchouts, three getting blinkers, drops in class, et al..

Most Likely: #1 King Kongrats 5-2 (A) WON ($5.10)
Best Value: #2 Steve Came Thru 5-1 (B) 3rd
Next Best: #4 King of Gold Street 3-1 (B) 6th
Exotics Use: #7 Pacemakestherace 8-1 (C) 4th

7th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 8.5f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #10 Darnley Bay 3-1 (A) WON ($9.40)
Next Best: #7 Cry Holy 5-2 (A) 9th
Exotics Use: #2 Casual Elegance 4-1 (B) 2nd
Best Value: #9 Swift Taylor 5-1 (C) 6th
Super Add: #6 Bunhead 10-1 (C) 8th

8th: NY-OC/N2X, 3+, 6f (DD)

Most Likely: #1 Uncle Smokey 7-2 (A) 2nd
Best Value: #3 Dehere of the Cat 12-1 (A) 3rd
Next Best: #11 I’m Stocked 3-1 (B) 7th
Exotics Use: #8 Do I Amuse You 4-1 (B) 5th

9th: NY-MSW, 3+, 6f

It will be pretty shocking to see anyone other than Escape to the Moon win this nightcap..

Most Likely: #8 Escape to the Moon 6-5 (A) WON ($3.60)
Next Best: #4 Saltine Warrior 7-2 (B) 9th
Best Value: #9 Felix 6-1 (C) 7th
Exotics Use: #3 Ronnie’s Whey 15-1 (X) 6th

<$150 P6 Play:

4: 2-6-7
5: 3-6
6: 1-2-4
7: 7-10
8: 1-3
9: 8

3x2x3x2x2x1 = 72 x $2 = $144

<$50 P4 Play:

6: 1-2-4-7
7: 2-6-7-9-10
8: 1-2-3-8-11
9: 8

4x5x5x1 = 100 x .50 = $50

Brilliant performance from Shared Belief ended the G1 stakes era at Hollywood Park on a high note Saturday as the Candy Ride gelding stamped himself as the possible Juvenile Champion and certain 2014 Classic Season heavyweight. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee owned by Jim Rome’s Jungle Racing and Partners sat patiently throughout under Corey Nakatani and was even unperturbed by an outside rush to the front from Candy Boy nearing the turn. Shared Belief simply responded when asked off the turn by Nakatani and powered away from the overmatched field to a 5+ length win that will earn him many 2yo Eclipse votes in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Baffert/Fog City hopeful and 2nd choice Tap It Rich took a big step backwards undoing any apparent progress that had been made to bring the willful Tapit ridgling to hand. Though we won’t have to think about them at Hollywood beyond next Sunday, the outside post positions fully doomed a marooned third of the field as the 1-2-3-4-6 filled the pay slots including 72-1 maiden Electric Eddie who ran evenly to be 5th.

At Gulfstream, Michael Dilger stunned a deep-looking 2yo MSW route with 36-1 Our Caravan. The Sobotniks’ Daaher bay, whose seeming clue for talent was a $190k Saratoga Yearling price tag, halted P4 and P5 plays in their tracks.

Hope everyone did OK Saturday… With NY cancelled, Gulfstream and Hollywood will get the focus.

GULFSTREAM PARK

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: CLM/N3L, 3+, 6.5f (P3, DD)

Best Value: #6 Strong Humor 6-1 ($8.20)
Next Best: #3 Thunder Hole 2-1 8th
Exotics Use: #5 Belief System 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #7 Mr. Baker 20-1 5th

2nd: CLM, F&M-3+, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Wild, wide open affair!

Best Value: #3 Pyrite Smokin 20-1 5th
Next Best: #2 Love Shack 15-1 10th
Exotics Use: #6 Zeffee 20-1 9th
Super Add: #7 Double Berg 4-1 7th

3rd: MCLM/$32k, 2yo-F, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Thinkofyou 7-2 5th
Best Value: #4 Formal Quality 12-1 9th
Next Best: #2 K B Biorhythms 3-1 WON ($6.40)
Exotics Use: #7 Cocoanut Row 5-1 7th

4th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 1m (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Top Excitement 3-1 4th
Best Value: #8 Casino Day 8-1 3rd
Next Best: #6 Gaetano T 4-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #7 Jump for Kitten 5-2 WON ($4.40)

5th: MCLM/$25k, F&M-3+, 1m-T (Rainbow 6, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #11 Amber Morning 3-1 10th
Next Best: #14 Ever Awesome 5-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #2 Love That Kelly 4-1 WON ($8.20)
Super Add: #6 Exceed the Limit 15-1 3rd

<$50 P4 Play:

2: 2-3-6-7
3: 2-4-6
4: 1-8
5: 2-11-14

4x3x2x4 = 96 x .50 = $48

6th: OC/N1X, 2yo, 1m (P5, P3, DD)

All eyes on Coup de Grace as C. Brown/Fox Hill colt takes next step..

Most Likely: #8 Coup de Grace 2-1 WON ($3.60)
Best Value: #2 Gone as Wind 8-1 3rd
Next Best: #3 Hy Kodiak Warrior 3-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #1 Purchango 12-1 6th

7th: OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

I think Divine Luck is a standout here in the type of open race I like to make stands. Bustle (4-1) up against it from #13..

Best Value: #4 Divine Luck 6-1 7th
Next Best: #5 Dancing for Glory 3-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #6 Exclude 10-1 8th
Super Add: #7 Indian Starlight 20-1 11th

8th: 9th South Beach, F&M-3+, 7.5f-T (P3, DD)

Another spot where if the one you like doesn’t win, it could be any of another 8-9..

Most Likely: #6 Baffle Me 3-1 WON ($4.00)
Best Value: #8 Sure Route 12-1 2nd
Next Best: #3 Moment in Dixie 5-1 5th
Exotics Use: #7 Ana Luisa 4-1 4th

9th: OC/N1X, 2yo-F, 6f (DD)

Pletcher Glencrest filly Onlyforyou the one to beat yes, but Istrue has S. Florida tongues wagging..

Most Likely: #4 Only for You 3-1 WON ($3.60)
Best Value: #10 Istrue 5-1 5th
Next Best: #2 Dreaminofauntdiane 4-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #7 Red Brunette 15-1 10th

10th: MCLM/$75k, 2yo, 1m-T (Super Hi-5)

Dropper.. Turf movers.. Stretchouts.. Yee-Ha!

Best Value: #11 Crossed Boundary 10-1 4th
Next Best: #4 Kwacha 4-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #7 Aunt Ruby’s Kitten 5-1 5th
Super Add: #9 Dark and Dusty 8-1 7th
Hi-5 Play: #8 Meuser 3-1 WON ($6.60)

<$50 P5 Play:

6: 2-8
7: 4
8: 3-6-7-8
9: 2-4-10
10: 4-7-9-11

2x1x4x3x4 = 96 x .50 = $48

<$75 P4 Play:

7: 4-5
8: 3-6-7-8
9: 2-4-10
10: 3-4-7-8-9-11

2x4x3x6 = 144 x .50 = $72

GULFSTREAM PARK

POST-SCRATCHES

6th: OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 5f-T (P5, P3, DD)

Deep lawn dash with about 8 of the 12 within range. No shortage of early zip signed on so it looks like stalking/closing types are the way to lean. Recall that leaving Clement’s Cavetto off early P4 at Spa 8/16 cost me a sweep of the day’s quads and having shipped early to Payson, there’s potential that she makes enough of a forward move here to impact..

Most Likely: #5 Cavetto 5-1
Best Value: #10 Great Red Beauty 20-1
Next Best: #8 Be My Love 8-1
Exotics Use: #6 Perfect Package 6-1

7th: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Long Water (Elusive Quality) outside a half to Long River; Firster Blarp (War Front) a half to Newsdad; Oxley/Casse’s Thundergram (Graeme Hall) a full to Hurricane Ike and half to Drums of Thunder; Coolmore’s Palace Gate (Giant’s Causeway), out of De La Rose winner Path of Thunder, a full to precocious MSW Excited; Struggling Browns Gap (Harlington) a half to Roxy Gap..

Most Likely: #7 Thundergram 3-1
Best Value: #6 Hi Speed Chase 6-1
Next Best: #12 Long Water 5-1
Exotics Use: #11 My Storm Trooper 12-1

8th: OC/N1X, 2yo, 1m-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #3 Camden Street 3-1
Next Best: #7 Myositis Dan 4-1
Best Value: #11 Rope a Dope 8-1
Exotics Use: #9 School On a Hill 6-1

9th: Sugar Swirl (G3), F&M-3+, 6f (DD)

Most Likely: #3 Heart Stealer 3-1
Next Best: #5 R Free Roll 2-1
Exotics Use: #1 Crazy About Me 4-1

10th: CLM, 3+, 1m-T (Super Hi-5)

Most Likely: #1 Target Sighted 3-1
Next Best: #8 Noble Doss 6-1
Best Value: #10 Exeter Road 15-1
Exotics Use: #4 Favorite Ketch 4-1

<$75 P5 Play:

6: 5-6-8-10
7: 6-7-12
8: 3-7
9: 3-5
10: 1-8-10

4x3x2x2x3 = 144 x .50 = $72

<$75 P4 Play:

7: 3-6-7-11-12
8: 3-7
9: 1-3-5
10: 1-8-10

5x2x3x3 = 90 x .50 = $45

HOLLYWOOD PARK

PRE-SCRATCHES

7th: 35th Native Diver (G3), 3+, 9f (P4)

Most Likely: #9 Hear the Ghost 4-1
Best Value: #1 Blueskiesnrainbows 8-1
Next Best: #8 Rousing Sermon 3-1
Exotics Use: #6 Soi Phet 4-1
Super Add: #4 Setsuko 7-2

8th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 9f-T (P3, DD)

Best Value: #10 Bench Light 10-1
Next Best: #8 Cervaro 7-2
Exotics Use: #2 Spring Up 3-1
Super Add: #5 Power Ped 6-1

9th: 33rd CashCall Futurity (G1), 2yo, 8.5f (DD)

Outstanding cast for final edition of this important event at HOL. Will maintain confidence in Tap It Rich as Baffert seeks 7th Futurity title and Tapit rig matures. BC Juvy try was solid all things considered and new bit has him more manageable in the mornings. 9-2 would be very appealing. Shared Belief looks like the real thing but has to make transition to two turns today. Commands respect, as does Hollendorfer’s 2nd runner Tamarando, but 7-2 not acceptable number on Shared Belief in field of 13. Kobe’s Back and Rankhasprivleges are badly drawn but are the next 2 I’m interested in..

Most Likely: #5 TAP IT RICH 9-2
Next Best: #6 Shared Belief 7-2
Best Value: #12 Rankhasprivleges 15-1
Exotics Use: #13 Kobe’s Back 9-2
Super Add: #2 Tamarando 4-1

10th: Cal-MSW, 2yo-F, 1m-T (Super Hi-5)

Most Likely: #7 Euroclydon 5-1
Best Value: #2 Top Pegasus 8-1
Next Best: #9 Chilada 6-1
Exotics Use: #3 Im a Giant Star 9-2
Super/Hi-5: #5 Kantina Kowgirl 6-1

<$75 P4 Play:

7: 1-4-6-8-9
8: 2-5-8-10
9: 5
10: 2-3-5-7-9-11

5x4x1x6 = 120 x .50 = $60

Good luck!
Steve