7/14: Hollywood Park ($127k C/O-Closing Day)

[Kasept]

Spent lion's share of Saturday afternoon and evening in Ft. Lauderdale airport and was starting to get as impatient with the racing results as the 5+ hour weather-related delay. A parade of disappointing performances from some nice horses made continuity difficult, but a terrific effort from unheralded Nellie Cashman in the Virginia Oaks at 19-1 erased all the frustration. In Chicago, Strathnaver and La Tia (Modesty) and Treasury Bill (Coach Jimi Lee) seriously underachieved and Stormy Len ran well in the American Derby but fell just short. Optimizer was a complete and surprising no show in the Man O'War as Boisterous capitalized on the chance at a G1. Earlier, Notacatbutallama continued to prove he is more than a novelty besting a good group in the Solar Splendor, while Noble Tune continued to demonstrate that he hasn't improved an ounce since last year. Rydilluc justified the wide 'bet against' views in the Virginia Derby as War Dancer, Charming Kitten and Jack Milton -- separated by a head at the wire -- established themselves as the best 3yo lawn lopers.

The day worked out better than OK overall thanks to a good view of the top 4 finishers in the Virginia Oaks, as Tres Abbott's improving Nellie Cashman courageously captured the G3 at a $41.60 tote. The PA-bred Mineshaft filly jumped up significantly when moved to the lawn and stretched out in her last 2 starts and figured to equally relish the extra sixteenth at New Kent. Forest Boyce earned her first graded stakes win and tripped a $61.30 exacta with favored Praia, a $186.00 tri with Three Hearts 3rd and $1,382.40 super with Hedonemewrongsong. Good day of racing and I hope many got whole with Nellie Cashman...

Didn't arrive in Greenwich until 4:30a after arriving at Islip at 1a and am late getting out the Hollywood closing day thoughts... Nice C/O for the must-pay sequence. Belmont closes today obviously as well after an excellent meet. Del Mar and Saratoga on the horizon!


HOLLYWOOD PARK -- CLOSING DAY

POST-SCRATCHES


6th: MCLM/$20k, 3+, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD)

$127k Mandatory Pay C/O Starts Here..

Most Likely: #7 Divine Notion 5-2 (A)
Next Best: #6 Teton County 5-1 (B)
Best Value: #11 Sofos Quick Logic 10-1 (C)
Exotics Use: #8 Buck's Tornado 4-1 (C)


7th: Cal-MSW, 3+, 1m-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #8 Ethnic Dance 9-5 (A)
Next Best: #2 Volkonsky 5-2 (A)
Exotics Use: #7 Elusive Journey 6-1 (C)
Super Add: #5 Heat Flash 4-1 (C)


8th: Cal-OC/N1X, 3+, 6.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #8 Indian Classic 5-2 (A)
Next Best: #4 Night Badger 4-1 (B)
Exotics Use: #2 Charlie'sboywins 6-1 (C)
Super Add: #6 Hugo Pirate 15-1 (C)


9th: MSW, 2yo, 5f (P3, DD)

NOTE: Shakahari a relatively late SCR (4:52pm ET) out of the MSW 9th..

Most Likely: #8 Shakahari 7-2 (A) Late SCR
Next Best: #4 American Pride 5-2 (B)
Best Value: #10 Dance With Fate 9-2 (B)
Exotics Use: #3 Rum Point 5-1 (C)


10th: OC/N1X, 3+, 6f-T (DD)

Most Likely: #2 U S Citizen 5-2 (A)
Next Best: #3 Dixieland Blues 5-1 (A)
Exotics Use: #8 Sacred Ovation 6-1 (B)
Super Add: #1 Insideondoutside 12-1 (C)


11th: MCLM/$20k, 3+, 5.5f (Super Hi-5)

Most Likely: #11 Saint Leo 3-1 (A)
Next Best: #2 Dramatic Allan 7-2 (A)
Best Value: #4 El Tovar 10-1 (B)
Exotics Use: #3 The Gatekeeper 4-1 (B)
Super Add: #9 Quick Cielo 8-1 (C)


<$150 P6 Play:

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

1x2x2x2x2x4 = 64 x $2 = $128


<$50 P4 Play:

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

2x3x4x4 = 96 x .50 = $48


Good luck!
Steve