Horse Pick of the Day: Hollywood Park – Race 7

Race-day: 12/9/2009

Race-time: 6:36 pm EST

Sometimes what looks like a relatively easy race in which to pick a winner is anything but.

Often times it’s in those races where true handicapping skill can lead to profits in the thoroughbred online racebook. Hopefully, that will be the case if they bet Hollywood Park’s Race 7 which, although a short field, could yield a high-priced overlay winner.

Let’s take a look at Race 7 at Hollywood Park on Wedensday.

Hollywood Park – Race 7

Claiming $50,000

For Three Year Olds and Upward

7 furlongs on cushion track

Yankee Bravo - - 12/1 morning line odds

In April of 2008, Yankee Bravo ran in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby.  Now, he runs in a $50,000 claiming race for trainer Paddy Gallagher.  Hey, that’s horse racing.  He’s also going turf to an all weather surface which is only a 12% winning move for Gallagher.  There doesn’t appear to be a lot to like until you study his past performances and see that this fella actually hasn’t been running too badly on the turf.  He’s been losing by a lot of lengths but that’s been against very, very good company.  He’s dropping in distance, is coming off of a lay off, has had some brilliant works in the morning, and gets his price cut in half from six figures to this claimer.  At the 12 to 1 odds, he’s worth a shot.

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Fort Funston - - 4/1 morning line odds

Fort Funston was beaten by 2 ½ lengths by Bad Boy the last time the two hooked up in a $40,000 claimer, but that was Funston’s first race since April of 2008 and he figures to be much tighter in this.  His ability to lie off of the speed or take the lead could serve him very well in this and trainer John Sadler is having a good meet.  If he gets an easy lead, then he’ll be long gone.

Bad Boy - - 2/1 morning line odds

Bad Boy has won two in a row but he keeps climbing up the claiming ladder and even though trainer Julio Canani is hitting at a 28% clip with his last out winners, Bad Boy has been running against super fast paces.  He won’t necessarily get that today.  He’s probably classier then where Julio has been running him.  So, the jump up from $40,000 to $50,000 isn’t that big of a deal.  Trying to do what he did to Fort Funston the last time they met and beating a quality horse like Yankee Bravo could be, though.  He’s also going to be overbet in this race which is another reason to leave him out of the win slot.

Wagering Strategy

I like Yankee Bravo on the move down the ladder and will bet him to win and place. I will also play exacta and trifecta boxes with Yankee Bravo, Bad Boy and Fort Funston.