Conditions: 7 furlongs on the Cushion Track for two year olds
This year's edition of the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue looks like a three horse race on paper. There's the shipper American Lion and the two Bob Baffert runners Indian Firewater and Macias. The rest of the field looks at least a cut below these top contenders.
Of the three contenders, Indian Firewater may hold an advantage being stabled here at Hollywood Park. This son of Indian Charlie has an improving figure pattern coming into this race. Even though Indian Firewater doesn't have the best most recent figure, Garret Gomez is opting to retain this mount and will give up Macias (Baffert's other colt) to Rafael Bejarano.
Macias is a stakes winner and does come into this Prevue with the best recent California figure. It's difficult to tell if the added distance will help Macias's chances in this tougher Grade 3 event.
Impressive maiden winner American Lion ships in from Keenland and will be running over the Hollywood Park Cushion Track for the first time. Facing winners and stakes company off merely a maiden score means American Lion could be a "play against" at low odds.
These three contenders should all be used for any rolling Pick 3's and Pick 4 wagers. My preference for a win wager would be Indian Firewater along with an exacta and trifecta box with Macias and American Lion.
By Rick Reitz
