It’s Clearly a Hot Market in the Opener Tonight

The richest horse running at Hollywood Park tonight is a $10,000 claimer in the first race.

Hot Market, a former stakes winner who has seen better days, will be favored to add to his bank account when he faces five rivals in the opener at 1 1/16 miles.

Claimed for $16,000 out of his 10th victory by trainer Ted H. West on Jan. 19 at Santa Anita, Hot Market, a gray son of Cee’s Tizzy, can be had for $6,000 less as he seeks his fourth victory in his last five outings.

A two-time winner during Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet, Hot Market, who was bred in California by John Harris, is the controlling speed under apprentice David Cohen. The gelding, who has earned $421,738, certainly likes Hollywood Park, where he has won four of eight starts.

Later in the card, Remo, who needed 12 starts to break his maiden, will try for a second consecutive victory in the seventh, a $49,000 allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass. Tyler Baze will ride the 5-year-old Atticus gelding for owners Lorraine and Rod Rodriguez and trainer Doug O’Neill.

Race of the day: Swagger Stick, an impressive winner against allowance rivals in his Keeneland debut on April 10, will move into stakes company today in the $200,000 Elkhorn, the closing-day feature.

The 4-year-old Cozzene colt will be ridden by Cornelio Velasquez in the Grade III at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

The field also includes Balestrini, Epicentre, Brickell, Stage Call, European, Rochester, Navesink River, Salford City, Magistretti, Art Variety and Scooter Roach.

One for the road: Banker Boy will get plenty of pace to chase in tonight’s fourth at Bay Meadows and can be along in time for owner Bob Bone and trainer Art Sherman. Russell Baze will ride the 5-year-old Banker’s Gold gelding in the $10,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles.

Exotically speaking: A late pick four using Nifty Souvenir and Ipsens Call in the fifth, Martinblestme in the sixth, all in the seventh and Get Candy and Worksformoney in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/14. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12.40/$85.80. Total money bet: $88.