Hollywood Park begins stretch run with pick six carryover

INGLEWOOD, Calif – Friday’s pick six at Betfair Hollywood Park could provide some bettors with a memorable final weekend of racing in track history.

Hollywood Park will close permanently after Sunday’s last day of the autumn meeting. Before the 75-year-old track goes out of the live racing business, bettors will be focused on Friday’s pick six, which begins with a carryover of $79,599 from Sunday.

With a four-day gap between live racing days, interest in the bet will be high, and the pool of new money for the pick six is expected to total in excess of $600,000.

There are plenty of horses to consider in the pick six, which covers the third through eighth races. Prior to late scratches, there were fields of 8, 10, 10, 11, 10, and 14 in those races.

Of the eight 3-year-old fillies in the third race, a $25,000 claimer over six furlongs on turf, trainer Doug O’Neill starts two – Pebble Beach Baby and Bas. They were second and third in a $25,000 claimer over 1 1/16 miles on turf Dec. 8, and each has a chance to end a five-race losing streak Friday.

Bas led to deep stretch in that Dec. 8 race, while Pebble Beach Baby stalked the pace.

“We were happy with her and Bas the other day,” O’Neill said. “It might set up better for Pebble Beach Baby.”

Julio’s Gold, trained by Vann Belvoir, is expected to show speed. Julio’s Gold won a $16,000 claimer on the synthetic main track Nov. 24, the day that Belvoir claimed her. Martin Pedroza rides Julio’s Gold for the fourth consecutive race Friday.

“It looks like a good spot for her,” Belvoir said. “I think Pedroza knows her, and he’ll get a good break. She’s been pretty sharp.”

The fourth race is a six-furlong dash for 2-year-old maidens entered for claiming prices ranging from $28,000 to $30,000. Next Book, trained by Marty Jones, and Giant Cowboy, trained by Craig Dollase, are first-time starters from stables that do well with such runners.

Of the six runners in the field that have raced, Rambling House, trained by Dean Pederson, had the best finish in his last start – a second in a similar race Dec. 5.

Hollywood Park officials plan to emphasize turf racing this weekend. Four of Friday’s eight races are on turf, including the fifth, run over a mile for $25,000 claimers who have not won twice.

Scorcher, a 4-year-old colt trained by Jeff Bonde, may have only 1 win in 18 starts, but he was second in a $25,000 claimer for open company on Nov. 9. O’Neill considers Ransom Canyon, second in a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two Dec. 1 after a wide trip, to be a leading candidate.

“We didn’t have the greatest luck in his last trip,” O’Neill said. “I would say he’s one of my best chances of the day.”

The sixth race is a sprint over 6 1/2 furlongs on the synthetic main track for $16,000 claimers who have not won twice. In a field of 11, Turn On the Brites, second at this level Nov. 29, and Awesome Indy, third at this level Nov. 9, will be among the shorter prices. O’Neill starts D J Manlove, who was fourth of five in a $25,000 claimer in June in his last start.

Trainer Peter Miller, who has 12 wins at the meeting, will try to win the seventh race with Promiscuoussuances, a 6-year-old mare who makes her 15th start of the year. The seventh race is an optional claimer for California-breds over six furlongs on turf. Promiscuoussuances was second by a half-length in an allowance race over six furlongs on turf Nov. 24.

Belvoir starts J and S Express, who was second in a six-furlong allowance race on the main track Nov. 21. J and S Express is winless in three career starts on turf. She drew post 9 in a field of 10.

“She drew a good post,” Belvoir said. “We can get out and sit close to it. I think she can win.”

The final race, for maidens entered for claiming prices of $18,000 to $20,000, drew 14 runners. There are four first-time starters in a field of runners with modest ability.

America Rising was third against a similar group Nov. 30, his first start in more than two months. Trained by Brian Koriner, America Rising starts from post 12. The post fits America Rising, Koriner said.

“He should sit in a perfect spot,” he said.