Memorial Day Stakes Races – Horse Betting Action in Hollywood Park’s 3rd and 9th Races

The Memorial Day Stakes Races extravaganza begins at Calder, Churchill and Belmont and continues all the way to Hollywood Park. HollyPark will showcase some of he best turf milers in the nation in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile on Memorial Day.

Before HollyPark runs the Shoemaker, they’re going to run the Grade II Honeymoon Handicap.

Memorial Day Stakes Races: Hollywood Park

Hollywood – Race 3

Race-time: 5:01 pm EST

Grade II Honeymoon Handicap

$150,000

For Fillies Three Years Old

1 1/8 miles over turf

This is a competitive field with a likely vulnerable favorite in Evening Jewel. That’s why the equine in the horse racing sportsbook I like to win this race is Andina. Andina has a record of 2-2-2 out of 6 lifetime races and missed only by a head going this distance in the Grade II Providencia Stakes two races ago. She’s extremely tractable. That should allow her to stay close enough to likely pace-setters City To City, Triple Cream and Evening Jewel. Evening Jewel will go off the chalk in this race after finishing 2nd to Blind Luck by a nose in the Kentucky Oaks in her last. She should enjoy the turf but she’s by no means a lock in this race. Horseplayers should beware of making her their top pick in this. In The Slips finished 3rd in the Providencia Stakes in her last. She goes from trainer Jeff Mullins to 29% winning trainer Ral Ayers. If the pace is as quick as expected she should win the Honeymoon Handicap coming from the clouds.

1. Andina
2. Evening Jewel
3. In The Slips

Hollywood – Race 9

Race-time: 8:05 pm EST

Grade I Shoemaker Mile

$250,000

For Three Year Olds and Up

1 mile over turf

While Karelian and Compari figure to duel each other on the front end, Mr. Gruff, who breaks from the rail could get the garden spot. Mr. Gruff is 5 and 2 out of 8 lifetime races. Based on his breeding, Mr. Greeley sired him, he should have no trouble stretching out to this mile distance. The only real question is whether or not he’s classy enough to beat a field like this. Compari is super fast and would be an odds on favorite if it weren’t for Karelian being in this race, but the 6 out of 7 lifetime winner has to break from the 10 hole and outrun Karelian to the rail before the first turn. That won’t be easy. Still, if Joel Rosario can get Compari to relax, he should be a dangerous horse at the top of the stretch no matter where he is on the track. Gallant Son has a 1st and a 2nd out of 2 lifetime races at a mile. He’s also coming off of a victory in the Grade III Inglewood Handicap. If Mr. Gruff, Compari and Karelian go after each other early, he’s the likeliest closer to run all three of them down.

1. Mr. Gruff
2. Compari
3. Gallant Son