Closing-Day Feature Is for Winners Only

The five horses scheduled to run in today’s $70,000 Dayjur Handicap certainly know where the finish line is.

Echo Eddie, Rocky Bar, Mighty David, Gibson County and Slew Of The Night have combined for 28 victories and $1,751,265 in earnings heading into the 5 1/2-furlong race, the feature on Hollywood Park’s closing-day card.

Owned by David and Rita Milch and trained by Darrell Vienna, Echo Eddie is the most accomplished member of the quintet and will be favored. Idle since finishing second to Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Orientate in the $400,000 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder on July 13, the 5-year-old gelding has trained well for his return.

A winner of eight of 19 and more than $905,000, Echo Eddie will break from the inside in a speed-laden field, and he has demonstrated the ability to win from slightly off the pace.

Patrick Valenzuela, who won the $100,000 Ken Maddy Sprint Handicap at Golden Gate Fields with the gray earlier this year, has the mount.

Race of the day: Recent claims Martel and U U Star are among seven $40,000 claimers scheduled to go 5 1/2 furlongs in today’s seventh at Hollywood Park.

Who’s hot: Jockeys whose last names begin with a V. Valenzuela, Jose Valdivia Jr. and Octavio Vergara combined to win all eight races at Hollywood Park on Friday.

Who’s not: John Anderson. The trainer based in Northern California is four for 94 this year.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Bossanova and Romeo Tango in the sixth, U U Star and Martel in the seventh, singling Echo Eddie in the eighth and Creme Cee’s, No Smoochin, General Nancy and Baby Mel in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/85. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7.40/$472.20. Total money bet: $578.