Numbers Don’t Add Up

Horse players who like large fields won’t be paying much attention today to Hollywood Park.

The eight-race program in Inglewood attracted only 51 horses and three of the first four races have five-horse fields.

Better places to look would be the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and Aqueduct.

The 10 races at the Fair Grounds drew 99 entrants and only one race has fewer than seven entrants.

At Aqueduct, the nine-race card on the inner track drew 103 entrants and no race has fewer than seven runners. Aqueduct has something rarely seen in California -- a first race with more than five entrants. Eleven horses are scheduled to run in the first half of the early double and the second race has 14 entrants.

The main event at Hollywood Park is a $40,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf that attracted six California-bred fillies and mares. Thermostatic, who won over the course on Nov. 14, will try for her second victory of the meet under jockey Alex Solis.

Race of the day: Four 2-year-olds coming off victories will meet in today’s seventh at Aqueduct, a $43,000 allowance at six furlongs. Exclusively Wild, Waki Affair, Itawtisawaputtytat and Wet N Wild Money all won their last race and loom strong contenders in a contest that’s part of a pick six with a carry-over of more than $98,000.

One for the road: Stretch Velvet is moved up in class in search of her third victory in a row and should handle the jump in today’s fourth at Golden Gate. The race is the second leg in a pick six with a carry-over of $129,179. Marcia Stortz will ride the 4-year-old Half Term filly in the six-furlong race for $12,500 claimers.

Exotically speaking: A place pick all using Action Forthe Year in the first, Cantaloupe in the second, Ashley’s Folly in the third, Wild Wager and Anthony Eats in the fourth, Abderian and Ecstatic in the fifth, Flamethrowintexan and Heaven’s Cat in the sixth, Thermostatic in the seventh and Sky Reality and Flag Lady B in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/63. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3.60/$317. Total money bet: $360.