Today's Free Pick
Sunday, August 1
By Jeff Siegel
EIGHTH RACE – 1. COST OF FREEDOM 2. E Z’S GENTLEMAN 3. MY SUMMER SLEW COST OF FREEDOM has never been sharper and is strictly the one to beat while seeking his third straight score. The Sadler-trained gelding loves this track and looks like the controlling speed once again. E Z’S GENTLEMAN earned a monster figure when winning the Triple Bend Handicap last month and before that was second to our top pick in the Los Angeles ‘Cap. He’ll be in the fray again. MY SUMMER SLEW always gives his best but might be a tad more effective on turf.
LONGSHOT – SMILING TIGER
Saturday, July 31
By Jeff Siegel
SECOND RACE – 1. ASNO DEL CARAMELO 2. RIBAT 3. BENERGY ASNO DEL CARAMELO flashed ability in his debut at Hollywood Park and should move forward considerably with that effort behind him. He exits a live race and should enjoy the extra furlong of today’s heat. RIBAT should prove to be a good $40,000 claim by Periban and rates a big look despite moving into tougher company. He was best when beaten last time out. BENERGY is a first time from the Baffert barn with a bullet work over the track. He’s a “must use” in the exotics.
LONGSHOT – GAHNZO BOB
Friday, July 30
By Jeff Siegel
SEVENTH RACE – 1. RICHARD’S KID 2. RENDEZVOUS 3. TEMPLE CITY RICHARD’S KID is the class of the field and can handle the distance. He came up a tad short when third in the Hollywood Gold Cup but won’t be a short horse today. RENDEZVOUS can handle the trip and looks capable of out finishing the others. TEMPLE CITY ran well at this distance last year, likes to stay close to the lead and should be a strong factor throughout.
LONGSHOT – UNUSUAL SUSPECT
Thursday, July 29
By Jeff Siegel
FOURTH RACE – 1. FULL ON 2. WITHIN REASON 3. DE CAR GUY FULL ON prefers patient handling but was used on the pace and paid for it late when a weakening fourth at 12-1 in a similar spot last month. He switches to P. Val and looks capable of producing the last run. WITHIN REASON represents inside speed and could get brave if he can shake loose early. Pedroza stays aboard for Koriner. DE CAR GUY, off the track since May and dropping drastically in class, should go better in this league with Talamo riding him back.
LONGSHOT - SATELLITE
Wednesday, July 28
By Jeff Siegel
THIRD RACE – 1. CAPITAL ACCOUNT 2. PATRIOTIC SOLDIER 3. EQUIPARADO CAPITAL ACCOUNT earned a giant figure when graduating at first asking in a race that already has proven to be productive. He’ll be odds-on to repeat for Baffert. PATRIOTIC SOLDIER, nosed out in a similar race in May, has worked sharply since and most likely will out finish the others. EQUIPARADO is a non-winner in the U.S. since being imported from Argentina but has steadily improving numbers and should earn a piece of it.
LONGSHOT - CONATO
SUNDAY, JULY 25
BY JEFF SIEGEL
SIXTH RACE – 1. BOLD CHIEFTAIN 2. ACCLAMATION 3. SWIFT WINDS BOLD CHIEFTAIN is the class of the field, loves the Del Mar lawn and Baze comes down to ride the veteran Morey-trained horse. Beat him for it all. ACCLAMATION was exposed in New Jersey and beating moderate graded competition at Hollywood Park but returns in a good spot and is another with prior winning form over the local lawn. SWIFT WINDS, a two-time winner over this course, switches to Bejarano and should at least hit the board.
LONGSHOT – BRUCE’S DREAM
Saturday, July 24
By Jeff Siegel
FIRST RACE – 1. UKANDOIT, THOMAS BAINES, PINAL UKANDOIT lands the cozy outside post while returning to the claiming ranks and turning back to a sprint. He beats these off his clever score two races back at Hollywood Park. THOMAS BAINES has been chasing tougher of late, is realistically spotted today and seems capable of completing the exacta. PINAL, first off the claim for Ellis, represents inside speed and will take them as far as he can.
LONGSHOT – SELF MADE
Friday, July 23
By Jeff Siegel
FIRST RACE – 1. PATSY’S LIL BUDDY 2. LULLABYTIME 3. PARTY WITH BRANDO PATSY’S LIL BUDDY returns to the claiming ranks, gets a favorable pace scenario and should be rolling in the final furlong. Her Bay Area turf form makes her a solid fit on this circuit and her recent works at San Luis Rey Dows indicate fitness. LULLABYTIME is back at her winning level after chasing tougher last month, retains Rosario, and should enjoy an ideal ground-saving trip from her good inside draw. PARTY WITH BRANDO ran well to be second at the level earlier this month at Hollywood Park and may get another minor award today.
LONGSHOT - POWEROFVOODOO
Thursday, July 22
By Jeff Siegel
SIXTH RACE – 1. COMMA TO THE TOP 2. CELESTIC NIGHT 3. WELCOME HOME RYAN
COMMA TO THE TOP returns to the maiden claiming ranks, switches to Bejarano and seems the solid choice. On numbers, he’s a standout among the known element. CELESTIC NIGHT was scratched yesterday from a $32,000 claimer for this tougher spot, and that may be a sign of confidence by his connections. The son of Vindication has a decent series of drills for his debut and gets Rosario. WELCOME HOME RYAN is a first timer by Candy Ride with a solid work tab and might act with these.
LONGSHOT – DIME
Wednesday, July 21
By Jeff Siegel
EIGHTH RACE – 1. TWIRLING CANDY 2. MACIAS 3. FACE AND AN ACE TWIRLING CANDY is unbeaten in two starts and could be any kind. There’s no reason he won’t be just as effective routing on turf as he has been sprinting on the main track. MACIAS is the proven class of the field and can win on the lead or from a stalking position. He’s strictly the one to fear most. FANCE AND AN ACE beat a softer field in good style recently, lands the favorable rail, and can’t be taken lightly.
LONGSHOT – HOCKLEY
Sunday, July 18
By Mike Superstein
NINTH RACE 1-MARLANG 2-UNUSUAL SUSPECT 3-OIL MAN
Acclamation won the two preps to the Sunset Handicap by grabbing an early lead and playing come catch me. Instead of trying to complete the local hat trick, his connections chose instead to run in the United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park. An able substitute for Acclamation may be MARLANG. Now trained by Neil Drysdale, MARLANG appears to be the only speed in the seven-horse field. The full horse by Langfuhr set the pace against far superior at Woodbine and desperately needed his recent Hollywood Park debut. UNUSUAL SUSPECT has danced all the marathon dances this year. He's earned nearly $70,000 in 2010 with his purse nibbling adventures. OIL MAN took the Cinema Handicap in Inglewood last year but is winless since. This may be the easiest race he's had during that period.
Longshot-BUENOS DIAS