Hollywood Notebook

HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK

MAY 26, 2010

by John Mucciolo

A single graded contest took the spotlight at Hollywood Park.

Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G3): Klein and Lebherz's SMILING TIGER

(Hold That Tiger) sped to the lead early beneath jockey Victor Espinoza and

would not be denied late in picking up his first graded win. The fleet colt

stopped the teletimer in 1:21 1/5 for trainer Jeff Bonde while a half-length

clear under the wire.

Track Stats

From a total of 42 races held over the Inglewood racetrack during the

five-day race week, favorites won at a 50 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 67 percent of the wins. From 27 frays contested on the

Cushion oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent), while two of

the 15 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (13 percent).

A pair of horses went wire-to-wire on the main oval from Wednesday through

Friday, one coming in a 4 1/2-furlong baby dash. On Saturday, the last three

Cushion races were led at every call, meaning only three of 24 winners through

the rest of the week were taken by speedsters.

The lack of wire jobs coincides with only a single runner breaking from the

innermost post and winning for the week.

It continues to be somewhat of a feast-or-famine meeting, as favorites are

doing incredibly well, but if they fail, anything seems possible.

Meet Totals

RACES:		199
CUSHION TRACK:		140
TURF:		59
FAVORITES:		84 (42 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		35 (18 percent)
TURF WIRE:		12 (20 percent)
CUSHION WIRE:		34 (24 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (5/19)

5TH -- BOGIE (Ire) (Pivotal) showed a sharp turn of foot to score here,

turning in his second commendable performance since arriving in the United

States for conditioner Paddy Gallagher. The sophomore went his final

five-sixteenths in a strong :29 2/5.

7TH -- BURG BERG (Johannesburg) did everything right but hang on late in

another consistent showing for Paco Gonzalez.

Thursday (5/20)

7TH -- BRUSHBURN (Unusual Heat) was powerful late in this 12-furlong test,

drawing clear to a nice tally under Brice Blanc. Trained by Steve Knapp, the

California-bred gelding is in very good form and should be a big threat in his

next engagement.

8TH -- The Peter Miller-trained COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie) just missed

in a sharp debut effort, and we expect that the juvenile gelding won't be a

maiden for long.

Friday (5/21)

5TH -- UNZIP ME (City Zip) made very short work of a talented bunch and

continues to climb the ladder for turf sprinters for trainer Marty Jones. Four

for four this season, the superb filly stretched her win streak to five while

getting her final quarter-mile in :22 3/5 and will return to the graded level

next time.

Saturday (5/22)

1ST -- ENRICHED (High Brite) was awesome in here, winning by 9 1/4 lengths

and finishing the one-mile turf event in a rapid 1:33 1/5 for conditioner Doug

O'Neill. The gelded five-year-old could have a big summer and bears watching

wherever he lands.

7TH -- RAPPORT (Songandaprayer) showed little rust from a lengthy layoff in

smoking this field on the front for Bob Baffert. The speedy sophomore filly will

be very tough versus winners in her return.

A Look Ahead

The Holiday Weekend brings forth a fine trio of graded turf events; Saturday

plays host to the $250,000 Gamely S. (G1) while the Monday card is led by the

$250,000 Shoemaker Mile S. (G1) and the $150,000 Honeymoon H. (G2).