Weekend Stakes Races 20th & 21st

Hollywood Park is hosting both big stakes races this weekend with the Cash Call Futurity being run on Saturday and the Dahlia Handicap being run on Sunday.

Sports betting fans should be able to find a nice overlay in both races as the fields are loaded with good horses. Online racebook fans have to demand a price when picking the winner in either race.

Let’s get to it!

12/20/2008

Hollywood Park - - Race 8

Grade I Cash Call Futurity

$750,000

For Two Year Olds

1 1/16th miles on cushion track

This race is loaded with some serious future players on the Kentucky Derby Trail. Bob Baffert brings two into this and both have a shot, but I’m going with the Todd Pletcher trained Bittel Road on top. Bittel Road was undefeated on the lawn before the debacle in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf where he finished eighth. He’s much better than that and because he comes out of Stormy Atlantic, there’s no reason to believe he won’t handle the cushion track. He’s been training well over it and he might go off an overlay because of some of the others in here. I’m putting Bittel Road on top. For second, I actually like Baffert’s Pioneer of the Nile more than Ventana. Previously trained by Bill Mott, there’s no doubt that Baffert’s job is to build this fella up to a run for the roses in May. This guy has the makings of a serious racehorse because he’s out of Empire Maker. He finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and could win this. For third, I Want Revenge for trainer Jeff Mullins could hang on for a piece. Mullins has won the Santa Anita Derby twice. So, he knows how to get these two year olds onto the Derby Trail.

1. Bittel Road

2. Pioneer of the Nile

3. I Want Revenge

12/21/2008

Hollywood Park - - Race 8

Grade II Dahlia Handicap

$150,000

For Fillies and Mare Three Years Old and Up

1 1/16th miles on turf

This is going to be an ultra-competitive race with some heavy hitters coming over from Europe to tackle the American horses. But I don’t like any of those gals. So, I’m gong with the Neil Drysdale trained Green Lyons on top. Green Lyons is stepping up in class but she can run with these after having beaten the likes of Storybook in her last. She will have to put forth her best effort but she can do it and jockey Joel Rosario knows how to get these female turf horses to run for him. Let’s put her on top. For second, Vacare is going to be very tough to beat. She’s the class of this field and should have no problems beating these into the ground, but she’s coming off of a layoff and she will be six come January. Vacare is a great mare but her best days may be behind her. For third, Storybook, who made a rally up the rail to finish second to Green Lyons in her last, is the play. She’s a quality, lightly-raced, four year old filly that is improving. The main issue is that she will have to break from the 12 hole in this.

1. Green Lyons

2. Vacare

3. Storybook

Good Luck!