Free Selections / Hollywood Park / Saturday 12-14-13

by Ed Meyer

posted on December 13, 2013 in Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

 

This is the final big stakes weekend for Hollywood Park. They opened the doors in 1938, and it’s been home to the who’s who of California racing for decades. The final day of racing is slated for 12/22/13, but in the meantime be sure to watch and wager on some value packed action that won’t be here for long.

 

Hollywood Park

Race #3 – The (G-2) Hollywood Turf Cup – 1 1/2 on turf – 4:30 p.m. ET

#6 – Lucayan (Fr) (5-2) = Joel Rosario gets the call for Neil Drysdale. This son of Turtle Bowl is 1/2 ITM at Hollywood, and exits off a dismal effort in the (G-1) Canadian International. The turf was yielding on that day, and he may require a little more firm ground to run. He drops down a class level, and has been on the shelf since 10/27/13. The barn comes back to score at a clip of 19% with rested runners. Ever since shipping over from France, he has looked solid. The (G-2) company and the services of Rosario bring confidence.

 

Race #7 – The (G-3) Native Diver – 1 1/8 – 6:35 p.m. ET

#9 – Hear the Ghost (4-1) = Corey Nakatani in the irons for Jerry Hollendorfer (23%). This lightly raced son of Ghostzapper is making his second effort off the layoff, and the barn wins at 21% on this move. He is 2/2 ITM at Hollywood, and 2/2 ITM over synthetic surfaces. He goes from 6 1/2f to 1 1/8, and the sprint to route changeover yields a 24% win clip. His morning works look good, and everything seems to be pointing toward a big effort.

 

Race #9 – The (G-1) Cash Call Futurity – 1 1/16 – 7:35 p.m. ET

#5 – Tap it Rich (9-2) = Mike Smith in the driver’s seat for Bob Baffert (34%) and they bring a son of Tapit post ward in the final Cash Call Futurity at Hollywood. He was a $510,000 sales purchase, and exits the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. They didn’t run on Lasix that day, and he gets it back for this effort. Baffert wins 28% with his two-year-olds, and 27% with his synthetic runners. Go back to his maiden race, and you will see he overcame a bad start and still won impressively. I am using him with #2 – Tamarando who is seeking to become the third horse to win the Real Quiet Stakes and Cash Call Futurity since Liaison (2011) and Comma to the Top (2010).

 

Winning Ponies will be ready to attack the day, and we’ll be there when the load the gates for the final time. Be sure to download the E-Z Win Forms for the entire card of racing, and look over all of the tier levels to find that nugget of handicapping gold. They are easy to use, color coded, and show handy icons that remind you of how a horse is coming into the race. They have Last Race Ratings, Composite Ratings, and Turf Class Ratings for runners entered on the greensward. You’ll get full past performances for each runner, and detailed stats that show how the rider and trainer have been doing on the year. The racing action won’t be here for long, so be sure to watch and wager on the last big days at this historic oval. – Best of luck from your friends at Winning Ponies!