Inda Turns to His Favorite

T.H. Approval has a unique distinction.

He’s the only horse trained by Eduardo Inda that has won a race in 2004.

The 3-year-old son of With Approval is two for 12. The rest of the barn is 0 for 41.

Owned by breeder Tadahiro Hotehama, T.H. Approval will try for his second victory in 10 days in today’s seventh at Hollywood Park. Rene Douglas, leading the jockey standings with 17 wins, will ride the gray in the $42,000 optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles on the turf.

In winning Nov. 14, T.H. Approval was held just off the pace early, then drew away and won by 2 1/2 lengths at 1 1/2 miles. Balestrini, who finished second as the 13-10 favorite that afternoon, is back in today along with Unrivalled, Salford City, Stratus and Californian, who will be making his first start for owner-trainer Jose DeLima.

Race of the day: Picnic Theme, who has won two in succession since being claimed for $40,000 by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., heads a field of seven fillies and mares going a mile in today’s eighth at Aqueduct, a $52,000 optional claimer. Dutrow is also scheduled to run Childress, who has won nine of 24, in the race against Tactical Plus, Grand Prayer, Stake, Treasure’s Dream and Sweet Dynamite.

One for the road: Colonel Courtney steps up in search of his fifth consecutive win after being reclaimed by trainer Kent Molinaro. The 4-year-old Mt. Livermore gelding will break from the outside post under jockey David Lopez in Golden Gate Fields’ first, a $25,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using You Crack Me Up and Is It True Mex in the fifth, Waki American in the sixth and T.H. Approval, Balestrini, Salford City and Californian in the seventh.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/41. Money: Previous day/meet total: $16.80/$230.40. Total money bet: $252.