4 day week at Hollywood Park? How about a 3 day week?

When Hollywood Park announced that Wednesday's card had to be scrapped due to a lack of entries it got us wondering yet once again. Why is it not possible that Hollywood Park go to a four day week and race Thursday through Sunday? Also, perhaps has anyone even thought that perhaps a Friday through Sunday schedule could work? The 5-6 horse fields are driving away business and handle. It has turned the sport on a sour note when horse players have to repeatedly look at these short fields with winners paying $2.80. Daily doubles have been as low as $5 and exactas paying $5 as well. Pick 3's have been in the mid to upper teens in returns as well. You get the idea. Perhaps maybe even cutting down to seven races during the week would help. Whatever the result, we need less racing, not more. Management also needs to take a serious look at not carding more than eight races on weekends when the week day race cards will suffer. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what to do. Just management that is less greedy.

Maiden followers may want to keep an eye out for Bella Palooza when the filly by Bellamy Road makes her next start Winning her debut in Wednesday's (05/19) 2nd race under Tyler Baze, the Doug O'Neil trainee looked quite solid returning $3.60 for the win. She could be a nice one and deserves to be followed.

There may not be a sharper horse on the Hollywood Parks ground right now than Unzip Me. When the 4-year-old filly won Friday nights $60,000-added Great Lady M it was her 5th win in a row for the Harris Farms, Antonsen and Valpredo owned daughter of City Zip. Her career has been well managed thus far by trainer Marty Jones and the cal-homebred is quick and has lots of heart. She won Friday night like she has a few more left in her and returned $3.80 to her backers.

Chocolate Candy returned from Kentucky and sure didn't look like the same colt that was once on the Kentucky Derby trail last spring. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee was flat and never really looked like a winner on Friday night.

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Lookin At Lucky gets some luck ... finally

Saturday's running of the Grade I $1,000,000 Preakness Stakes went off pretty much as expected, Lookin at Lucky finally got a decent trip under new rider Martin Garcia who replaced regular rider Garret Gomez after a few unlucky trips in the Santa Anita Handicap and the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Bob Baffert explained he wasn't placing any blame on Gomez but rather trying to bring back the "mojo" that had been missing. While we don't blame Gomez for the Kentucky Derby ride, more of the rail post doing in the son of Smart Strike, we feel it was the rides in the Santa Anita Derby and Breeders' Cup Juvenile that prompted the change in riders. Garcia did a good job keeping the colt out of trouble and he put 'Lucky in the spot to win the race which he did at $6.80. Perhaps the surprise of the race was with Super Saver, the Kentucky Derby winner who was nowhere at the finish line under Calvin Borel. Borel was quoted after the race that the Derby winner simply "came up empty" and had nothing for the stretch. So much for the Triple Crown that Borel promised everyone after the Derby win. Next stop will be Belmont.

Rail Trip returned to Hollywood Park in fine fashion and won the Grade II Mervyn LeRoy in his first start back since last being seen in September of last year. With Rafael Bejarano on board replacing Jose Valdivia, Rail Trip won by 3 1/4-lengths and paid $3.

Zenyatta continues to work and maintain a low profile since winning the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. Her next scheduled start could be in the Grade I Vanity handicap although no word has come from her connections as of yet.

Veteran trainer Jack Van Berg who had been in the midst of a 0 for 19 streak here at Hollywood Park and a dry 2 for 104 spell in 2010 has sprung to life over the weekend when saddling Fortunate Victory on Saturday to a $70.60 win in the 7th race under Alonso Quinonez. The 0 for 29 gelding broke his maiden vs. $25k maiden claimers. Van Berg's win here helped with a Pick 6 carryover of $85,741 into Sunday's card.

If Saturday's win wasn't quite enough, Van Berg pulled off yet another shocker on Sunday when the 5-year-old gelding Court Hero made his debut a winning one under Tyler Baze at $44.80. The gelded son of Dearchy had been drilling for his debut at Los Alamitos before arriving at Hollywood Park to work three times before loading into the gate for his maiden debut. It's been our experience that when fire strikes like this for a barn that it's wise to keep an eye on starters for a few days.

This years Preakness wagering was down 11.6% from last year it has been reported by Pimlico Race Course. Last years wagering was 59,726,342 compared to 52,766,815 this year. The result is a $7-million decline.

Tanda leaves little doubt in Railbird as does Rail Trip in return

The experiment to bring back Partywithlarryz off a win in four days didn't fare well for the barn of Doug O'Neill on Wednesday (05/05). The gelding was an uninspiring 4th vs. $25k claimers. Albeit he was jumping up in class on his win from $16k.

Trainer Greg Gilchrist went out on a winning note as the popular trainer retired from racing on Wednesday (05/05) by saddling his last starter Island of Zen in the 5th race at Hollywood Park. Pretty much controlling the pace from the start, the filly streaked home at $4.20 under Joel Rosario. Gilchrist has said to be pursuing plans on being a bloodstock agent.

M One Rifle should be watched next time out as the returning Bruce Headley trained gelding didn't have a chance in his return in Thursday's second race. Breaking from the two hole, drawn outside of the classy Cost of Freedom, 'Rifle broke slowly and awkwardly allowing Cost of Freedom the easy uncontested lead. 'Rifle did try to rally but flattened out under Mike Smith. While cost of Freedom looked good winning at $6.60 for trainer John Sadler, 'Rifle had zero chance with the way the race unfolded and should be given another chance when Headley enters him back.

Friday nights card resulted in a Pick 6 carryover of $94,434.35 into Saturday's card.

Boy how impressive was Rail Trip in his return winning the Grade II $150,000 Mervyn Leroy Handicap on Saturday? Ron Ellis had this guy ready for owners Jay Em Ess Stable and Rafael Bejarano fell aboard this one replacing jockey Jose Valdivia who has left town to ride elsewhere. The gelded son of Jump Start left little doubt that he is more than ready to defend his Hollywood Gold Cup Title this year. Rail Trip returned $3 to his backers.

Pacific Avenue may be one to watch in his next start as trainer Bruce Headley may have a very nice gelding on his hands here. The debuting son of Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus) is out of Lindsay B, a Forest Wildcat mare and was bred in partnership by trainer Bruce Headley and Bolton. Making his first start in Saturday's seventh race (05/08), Pacific Avenue made a nice late move under Mike Smith to win going away. This gelding was still a bit on the green side and may improve further with racing. He returned $16.40 to his backers.

Speaking of promising debuts, Carry Gulch a recent import from Argentina looked solid under Tyler Baze wiring his rivals for trainer Peter Miller in the 8th race on Saturday (05/08). The 5-year-old son of Thunder Gulch had been working well for his local debut and was looking to add to his four in a roll streak, which he did rather impressively. He's now won six of 12 lifetime starts and may have a nice career ahead of himself here in the states.

Tanda scored quite nicely in Sunday's 7th race (05/09) Grade III $100,000 Railbird and was given a heady ride from the rail slot under Alex Solis. Trained by Dan Hendicks and owned by Tommy Huttons Dream Stable, the daughter of Sweetsouthernsaint was winning her second Grade III in a row and paid a nice $6 to her backers in the process. She beat a very well regarded Switch in the process who may have been compromised by slow fractions and a wide trip in the Railbird. Both fillies should be watched for in upcoming races.

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Bits and pieces from Hollywood Park

Odds and ends from Hollywood Park ...

Thursday at Hollywood Park was interesting to say the least. Good looking win by Kayce Ace, a full sister to multiple stakes winner Colonel John who looked good breaking her maiden going 1 1/6th miles for trainer Eoin Harty. Owned by Winstar Farms her final clocking was 1:44.67.

Like longshots? How about Day with Desi ringing the bell at 71-1 for trainer George Papaproudromou under Kerwin John. Beaten a combined 48 lengths in four previous starts, the longshot returned $144, $62.80 and $23.80 across the board. Tough to come up with this one but after looking at this 4-year-old geldings past performance lines it wasn't impossible. You just needed some creative handicapping techniques in order to get there.

Noble's Promise is out of the Preakness Stakes and could start next in the June 15 St. James Palace at Ascot, a Group 1 race at about a mile on the turf. Noble's Promise finished 5th in the Kentucky Derby after taking the lead at the quarter pole in which Super Saver went on to win.

Mountaineer racetrack in West Virginia has canceled its Friday night card, according to Equibase, because of a "management decision" arising out of a dispute between horsemen and riders over losing-mount fees. Not a good situation for either side in very tough economical times.

Kentucky Oaks and Derby quite different

Why is it that year after year the Kentucky Oaks seems to be much more formfull and easier to handicap? Last year was Rachel Alexandra and this year we had Blind Luck. Each year seems to have one, maybe two standouts while the Derby on the other hand is more like a rodeo of twenty or so rowdy three-year-old boys heading to a frat party. We completely overlooked the winner, Super Saver and perhaps maybe it's because he looked just like 11 or 12 other horses in the race. While we eliminated both Lookin at Lucky and Sidney's Candy because of post positions, the rest just looked the same to us. Too bad Lookin at Lucky didn't have a better post as we feel he was the best three-year-old in the race and simply didn't have a chance to show it.

Horses that may start in the Preakness Stakes are: Aikenite, A Little Warm, Bushwhacked, Caracortado, Dublin, Hurrican Ike, Ice Box, Jackson Bend, Lookin at Lucky, Paddy O Prado, Pleasant Prince, Schoolyard Dreams, Super Saver and Turf Melody. Of course it is still quite early, but we'd have to back Lookin at Lucky at this point should he emerge from the Derby in okay shape.

The 2010 Kentucky Derby showed an increase in ratings and that is good news for the sport that so desperately needs a shot in the arm. Ratings drew an overnight 10.3 and 23 share which is up 1% from last years Derby. Last years Kentucky Derby was the most watched in 20 years, and this years running was the most watched in 18 years so perhaps something positive is going on huh?

Great weather and racing at Hollywood Park this weekend. See you back at the track on wednesday!

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Rachel just not the same horse in 2010

We are convinced after watching Friday's Grade II $400,000 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs that Rachel Alexandra just isn't the same filly she was in 2009. Yet, anyways. The pedestrian like fractions that were set (:24.79 and :48.81) and the fact she didn't or couldn't pull clear through the stretch is indication enough. This is now her second straight defeat in 2010. The winner, Unrivaled Belle covered the 1 1/6th mile in 1:42.97 and paid $20.80. The daughter of Unbridled's Song is trained by Bill Mott and was ridden by Kent Desormeaux.