Drysdale, P-Val team up
I think I'm going to bet One Off in the seventh at Hollywood Park today.
The 6-year-old gelding has a lot going for him. He's been running with Grade II company three of his four past races and he's running against $80,000 optional claimers today. The team of Neil Drysdale and Patrick Valenzuela has clicked at a 27-percent success rate the past year and the horse has won at the tricky 1 1/4-mile distance. He's also won over Hollywood Park's turf course. I'll play him at 5-2 or more.
Well, I followed you to the window (if you went) with One Off who I liked as well. The 2-1 priced I though was fair and I liked his last race at Del Mar.
Hey, what gives with the track today? Yesterday it favored nothing but come-from-behinders and today you had to pretty much lay-up close. I know it's only the second day but are they able to "fiddle" with it like the old dirt course?
One Off got out badly and I think was father back than the connections wanted. He closed well in the stretch, and I don't know if he would have caught the winner given a clean break.
I think we're going to need to give Hollywood Park's new Cushion Track some time before we make any judgements. So far, through the first three days, I think it's played pretty fairly.