Guide to Ratings:

1. Predictable race but does not offer much betting opportunity, or unpredictable race but offers some opportunity if the price is right.
2. Race presents an average (decent) betting race with some opportunity and value, depending on the odds.
3. This is a "BEST PLAY" race as the race presents an exceptional opportunity, not necessarily that any particular horse in the race does. Whether any horse or horses in the race present exceptional opportunity depends on the odds.

My written selections & analysis for various racetracks are available daily on the Internet at www.trackmaster.com and also at www.equibase.com. More information is available by calling (800) 334-3800.

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Race #1

#4 Sealed With A Kiss - Fair odds 3/2

We start the day with a 6 horse field, and only two contenders, the one listed and #6 Houston's Prayer. We can use both in the daily double or pick 3 if we play, but for the win bet I'll just go with Sealed With A Kiss if an overlay. He's got the top early speed in the race and should win right back following a 5 length win last out over the track, from an outside post like the one he gets today, and being a perfect fit following that maiden win at this non-winners of 2, maiden claiming winners only level.

Race #2

#4 Craton - Fair odds 7/2

In a "Every Dog Has Its Day" kind of race, trainer Luis Seglin figures to get his winner for the meet, maybe for the year, with Craton, who is the only horse in here at all possessing anything resembling early speed. He ran fourth under identical conditions last out, in his first route since coming to the U.S. and 4th U.S. start, at 90/1. That was his best race by far to date and he can crawl on the lead today and get very brave, going wire to wire in this very light field.

Race #3

#4 Agorein - Fair odds 2/1

#2 Scenic Wonder and #6 Silicon City also have a shot to win, having both run third in their only career starts last out, but first timer Agorein looks like something special. He cost $210,000 last as a yearling in 2001, and he's been training like a monster in the morning, including a smashing 6 furlongs in the race-like time of 110.6 on 5/26. His dam has produced two foals to race, both winner in their debuts, and with a combined perfect record of 5 for 5 between them. I expect this colt to come out running just as his siblings did.

Race #4

#4 Palmarola - Fair odds 2/1
#2 Madame Pietra - Fair odds 5/2
#6 Bear Fan - Fair odds 5/2

These three fillies and mares have a combined record of 15 wins in 29 starts, true professionals all. Palmarola gets the nod here dropping out of a Grade 1 race she wasn't ready for at Churchill last month following 8 months off. Her first four U.S. races were all big, including her last two starts and only two race in 2002, both wins, one at 7 furlongs here at HOL and with Solis up at this level, the result of blinkers going on for the first time. With super works since raced in the morning she's likely to repeat or exceed her best effort of last year, and that makes her the one to beat. Madame Pietra is 6 for 11 in her career at the distance, and shoots for her fourth straight win, the last being a victory in the 250K Sunshine Millions Sprint in January. She won at HOL before that, and Pat V has been aboard for all three of her last wins, so she fits on all counts for inclusion in the pick 6 and pick 3's at the minimum. Bear Fan, like Palmarola last won at the Optional 100K claiming level, in a huge effort, and like Palmarola opens at 4/1. She's been working a hole in the wind for her return, and with a good outside post to go along with her ability to come from off the pace or go wire to wire PLUS her perfect 4 for 4 career record, she deserves a look as well. I'm taking a stand against favorite Cee's Elegance, as I think 6 furlongs is not her best distance, with only one of her 5 career wins (in 6 tries) coming at this distance.

Race #5

#3 Mega Gift - Fair odds 3/1
#8 Spainbird - Fair odds 3/1
#1A Fun and Sun - Fair odds 3/1

Exactas: Box 1,3,8

Mega Gift is a great value at 8/1 on the line, likely to hold up. Claimed a year ago in April for 12,500 by top trainer Mullins, he's won three of six since. He comes back off 2 months of rest and coming out of a KEY race in which he ran fourth, a race from which the first and third place finishers came back to win. Berrio, not known for being a turf rider, nonetheless is 3 for 6 for Mullins and rode the gelding to his 3 wins in Jeff's car, and with spectacular works in May leading up to this race, and his being a 7 time winner where only one other horse has more then 1 win in its career, he's a key bet. Spainbird added blinkers 2 back and improved a ton, beaten one length when in tight then winning nicely with a fine late kick. Nakatani has been up for both and rides back, and this horse fits fine here as a last out winner against many who are multiple losers since breaking their maidens, impossible to ignore opening at 12/1 for hall of fame trainer McAnally. Fun And Sun rallied for 2nd at 13/1 under similar circumstances last out, and since that was his 2nd start off a layoff and first route since his comeback better can be expected here, especially considering that he won his only race on this turf course.

Race #6

#9 Jersey Rebel - Fair odds 2/1
#5 Imperial King - Fair odds 2/1

Exacta: 5,9 over 4,5,9 (4 Charming Boy)

Jersey Rebel gets a big post change from his last start, inside to outside, and that should be the key to a winning race, as he went wire to wire when he got the outside three back. Since then he ran in a stakes he didn't fit in and then had a poor start from the poor rail last out. He's in a good mood, evidenced by a 111 workout the other day, and with Pat V to send him from the age he's going to take some catching. Imperial King shows a key pattern of class drop + jockey switch to the last jock to have won with him, Solis, here at HOL in April. He's won 4 of 5 this year and back in a claimer where he belongs after a poor race in allowance company he's got a big shot to return to winning form.

Race #7

#5 Palmeiro - Fair odds 2/1
#2 Bonus Pay Day - Fair odds 2/1

Two of these have little chance, and they are likely not the two you're thinking of. General Challenge showed nothing after 3 year off last out and needs another race or two to get into shape. Candy Ride, who opens as the favorite, is unlikely to run a winning race going 2 turns after 7 months off, although he can hit the board. Palmeiro drops out of stakes company into the optional 100K ranks, the same move he used last year at this time (On May 8) to win here at Hollywood Park, at this distance as well. He's got good tactical speed and may have the lead, as Daunting's winning races recently have come on very slow fractions. With a line of 8/1 and a 7 for 10 win/place record at the distance in his career, he should be pretty tough. Bonus Pay Day just ran 2nd and 3rd to two buzzsaws, stakes winners Joey Franco and Bluesthestandard, both of whom would be odds on if entered here. With a good post, decent tactical speed, and Pat V up for the fifth straight time he's going to have a say from bell to wire.

Race #8

#9 Quero Quero - Fair odds 7/1

Exactas: Box 9,1 (Atlantic Ocean/ Major Idea) Box 9,2 (Star Vega/ Lady's Mantle) Box 9,6 (Rutters Renegade)

Consider 1, 2 and 6 for your pick 3, 4 and six plays, as all have a shot to win, and fair odds on any of them would be about 5/2, but with m.l. odds of 5/2, 3/1 and 7/2 there's no value for win bets. With Quero Quero opening at 20/1, there's tons of value. This filly comes from the barn of Paulo Lobo, who brought us Farda Amiga in the 2002 edition of the Ky Oaks at boxcar odds. A Kentucky bred daughter of Royal Academy, she is bred to love the grass, and proved it in her first turf route last out, winning as she pleased. The horse she beat, Varnished (from the Frankel Barn) came back to win since and is a quality filly as well. This filly was the 6/5 favorite that day, and even from an outside post at a mile she ran the last quarter in a sizzling 23.1, stakes quality time. If she wasn't just a maiden winner she'd be 4/1 or less here, but we are getting tremendous value on her, and I think she's worth the risk as a win bet and exacta key.

Race #9

#7 Slewpy B Fast - Fair odds 5/1
#2 Mamaiswar - Fair odds 5/1
#3 Lovin Laurie - Fair odds 5/1

Exacta: 2,3,7 over 2,3,5,7,10 (5 Cruzenwiththestars, 10 Dances on Clouds)

Slewpy B Fast and Cruzenwithstars are an uncoupled entry from the barn of leading trainer O' Neill, with the latter opening at 3/1 while Slewpy B Fast opens at the whopping price of 20/1. This is a cal bred maiden claimer and anything can happen, and that's what I am counting on,as this filly takes blinkers off for only her 2nd start in O' Neill's care and 2nd on this circuit, getting a key jock change to Jauregui, who is not only 4 for 15 for the trainer but who also was up for a similar win on the longer priced half of an uncoupled O' Neill entry not to long ago. The filly has shown some ability, setting the pace to the top of the lane before fading to 4th in her debut, and gets a big look here coming out of a race in which she went the first quarter in 21.4. Mamaiswar debuts off a great series of works over the track for the good Stute (Gary) barn, and could outrun her 8/1 line here at the minimum. Lovin Laurie rallied for 3rd in her debut and should continue to improve for dependable trainer Ward.

I can be reached by e mail. Send to estarr15@insightbb.com

Wheel- Using a horse as a key selection with all the horses in a certain wager. An exacta wheel using the #1 horse would consist of 1 over all the other entrants.

Part Wheel- Similar to a wheel but it does not include the entire field.

Back Wheel- Using a horse (or horses) in the second position in the exacta so if the horse runs second you cash the bet. For example all over #1.

Box - Combining two or more horses in an exacta or trifecta so that if any of them come in either of the places necessary for the bet you are a winner.

Exotics - usually any bets other than straight bets (win, place, and show). Exotics include exactas, trifectas, and pick 3's.