Primerica Prime Choice

Primerica is definitely a Hollywood Park specialist, so trainer Mike Mitchell will try to get another win from the 7-year-old gelding before the scene shifts to Santa Anita in one week.

A winner of four of nine in Inglewood, Primerica is among 10 older horses scheduled today to go 1 1/2 miles in a $49,000 optional claimer on closing day at Hollywood Park. The race is the seventh of eight on the card.

Owned by Don Pedro Racing Stable, Primerica, a son of Mr. Greeley, made his first start for Mitchell a winning one. He tracked the pace of old-timer Max Power on Dec. 3, then drew away late to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the 6-5 favorite.

Garrett Gomez, who has ridden the dark bay to his last two victories, has the call and they will break from post four. Primerica is eligible to be claimed for $62,500 today after he won against $32,000 claimers earlier in the month.

A gelding with an even better record at Hollywood Park is Stratagem. The 3-year-old son of Tactical Advantage won for the third consecutive time when he rallied at 8-1 to win a $44,800 allowance by three-quarters of a length on Nov. 20. David Flores will ride the chestnut for a partnership and trainer Rafael Becerra. Easy Million, Molengao, last-out winner Distorted, Paraquedista, Take A Chance, Victory Light and El Elogiado round out the field.

Race of the day: True Love’s Secret, a classy 8-year-old gelding, will face a talented field of turf sprinters in today’s fifth at Calder. Manoel Cruz will ride True Love’s Secret, who has fared well on the local lawn, in the $24,000 optional claimer at five furlongs. Other contenders include Ptah, Parkers Mill and Sami’s Majic.

One for the road: Wrench It can fire fresh and is a wire-to-wire threat in today’s second at Golden Gate Fields. David Lopez will ride the veteran gelding in the $10,000 claimer at six furlongs. Today is the final day of Golden Gate’s meet.

Exotically speaking: An early pick four using Alec and Crazy Joe in the first; Go Bye Bye, Highest Honoree and My Charmian in the second; Private War and Hasty Kris in the third; and Top Radio Star and The Rye Man in the fourth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 4/83. Money: (previous day/meet total): $24/$447.80. Total money bet: $440.