OK, let's try this again

Wow, we got hammered with our long shots Friday night at Hollywood Park. But the beauty of playing horses at nice odds is that you have to connect on only 2 of every 20 bets at 20-1 to make money. If you continually bet 2-1 shots, you have to hit 2 of every 4 wagers to come out ahead. The trick is playing 20-1 shots that are live and have a chance as opposed to 20-1 shots that have no chance. Come up with a system of picking long shots that works for you and stick with it. I've had a system for more than 25 years that works and has produced horses that won at 104-1, 82-1, 60-1, etc. Of course, when you experience success, it leads to confidence and gives you that determination to stick with the system you've devised.

Now, I'm not saying I don't play any horses that are less than 20-1. No, if a horse I like fits my system and it's trained by a guy like Bobby Frankel, Richard Mandella, Neil Drysdale, John Sadler, Doug O'Neill, etc., I'll lower my sights because these are proven successful conditioners. I also like certain trainer-jockey combinations. If you look hard enough, you'll find trainers who use certain riders on live horses. Jump on those no matter what the odds, but I generally don't like anything less than 5-2.

So with all that said, here are some plays I like today, most of which fit into the non-long shot category:

1st -- Linda Lou is part of a Mandella entry that might go off at too low a price. I would play here at 5-2 or higher.

2nd -- Superfecta is 2-1 on the morning line and most likely won't fetch that 5-2 price we're looking for, but I think he's a good single in doubles, triples and early pick fours.

3rd -- Green Lyons is my best bet of the afternoon. He comes out of the Grade I E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine Park in Toronto for Drysdale. He's 4-1 on the morning line so I think I'll get my 5-2.

5th -- Makor's Love is one of the few long shots today that fits my criteria. I'm certain I'll get 20-1 or more. Alex's Wish and Jody's Included are safer plays that should go postward at decent odds.

6th -- Young Joe is the speed of the race and trainer David Hofmans is taking off the blinkers. If David Flores can ration the speed on the 3-year-old gelded son of Roar, he could be tough in this 1 1/16-mile claiming event. Dixie Meister, for trainer Julio Canani, also looks good here.

8th -- Held Up, for trainer Ted H. West, is my play here. I should get 5-2 or better. Colonel Courtney is a gate-to-wire threat in this spot and should also be considered. West has three wins this week, including two Friday night, and might be on his way to a big Hollypark meet.

10th -- Bonita Birdie, O Firefly and Plaza Queen caught my eye here. They are all coming out of the same $40,000 maiden claimer on Oct. 18 at Oak Tree. Now, you can't make money betting $20 on three horses in the same race that go postward at 3-1 or 7-2. Not a good risk. But if one goes off at 10-1 or higher and the other two at 3-1, why not use the 10-1 shot as a key horse in exactas with the other two?

Good luck today!