Posted on 5/9/2008 4:56:05 PM

Horse Racing Pick of the Day - Hollywood Park Race 5

By D.S Williamson

Six furlong online betting races on the turf have become a staple on Friday nights at Hollywood Park. I’ve been pretty unlucky with my sports betting picks so far this week getting nothing but thirds in three straight days. I’m looking to turn my online racebook wagering account around with a winner in the 5th at Hollywood Park late Friday night.

Hollywood Park Race 5

$40,000 Claiming for Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward

6 furlongs on the turf

Turf sprinters at night on the Hollywood Park lawn must always have either great tactical speed or the ability to lead outright. Closers, for some odd reason, don’t do nearly as well on the lawn on Friday night as they would during the day. My top pick, even at big odds, looks extremely capable in this 6 furlong claiming race.

Foxy Games - - morning line 8/1

I will be very surprised if Foxy Games keeps her morning line odds of 8 to 1. The real knock against this 4-year old miss is the fact that she is 0 and 3 on the Hollywood Park lawn. That doesn’t bother me all that much. And it shouldn’t bother BetUS online racebook fans who see other things to like in this gal. First, she’s making a slight class drop from $50,000 to $40,000 in this race. Second, she comes into this off a very nice maintenance type work on the Hollywood Park cushion track. Third, she gets hot-shot jockey J.A. Garcia who’s 1-1-1 out of four races at this meet. Finally, the real reason to like Foxy Games is her ability to either lead, should nobody in this race want the lead, or to stalk. The fact that she goes a half less furlong in this race can only help the cause.

No Kai Oi - - morning line 7/2

The sure to be post-time favorite has almost everything going for her. Brilliant turf trainer Julio Canini moves her up from the $32,000 claiming level where he grabbed her from Jack Carava. This five-year old mare will most likely improve for the simple fact that Canini is a master with such moves. However, the jock on her back, Martin Garcia, has been a pariah to online racebook betting fans. He’s won only one race out of 52 at the current Hollywood Park meet. I’m not sure if Martin is going to ride tomorrow actually as he took a bad spill from a horse in the first race at Hollywood on Thursday. In any case No Kai Oi is the best closer of this bunch. If she gets an opening, she could win this.

Mama Lula - - morning line 9/2

Another filly jumping from the $32,000 level back up to the $40,000 level. This five year old daughter of Fit to Fight is coming off of three in the money finishes. Figuring out a trip from the one hole will be no easy task for jock Joel Rosario, but other then that there’s not much to dislike about this mare. Then again, the fact that trainer Bill Spawr drops her after three straight good races could be a sign that he’s trying to unload her. Does she have a fourth good effort in her?

Wagering Strategy

I’m going to just play the three horse exacta box in this race along with a sizable win/place/show wager on Foxy Games. My main hope is that Foxy Games gets an easy lead and cruises to a win in this Friday night race.

Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Kentucky Derby Odds at Churchill Downs bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2008 Kentucky Derby Betting.