Johnny Be Good Is Hot

Johnny Be Good, a 4-year-old gelded son of Summing, has come a long way in a short time.

Claimed for $5,000 by owner-trainer Adan Farias a little more than two months ago at Los Alamitos, Johnny Be Good has won three in a row at three tracks.

After beating $12,500 quarter horses at Los Alamitos, he rolled to an easy win over thoroughbreds at Stockton, then came up with his biggest win of all Sunday at Hollywood Park.

On paper, Johnny Be Good looked overmatched in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race for $50,000 claimers, but the California-bred certainly proved he belonged. On the lead throughout under regular jockey Ramon Guce, who collected his first win at Hollywood Park, Johnny Be Good held off the 9-year-old win machine Fit For A King by a nose at 16-1.

His win was the second of the day for a horse shipping from a supposedly lesser circuit.

Is It True Mex, who had earned all his victories in Northern California, held off Diamant by a head to win the fifth, another turf sprint, at 40-1 under apprentice Omar Figueroa.

Those two surprises seemed to make a pick six carryover for today a slam dunk, but one ticket was able to isolate all of the winners and the payoff was a hefty $219,815.

Race of the day: Diamond Hope, second to Regiment in a stakes at Lone Star Park on May 27, heads the field for the fifth race, a $50,000 optional claimer at one mile on the turf. Nine others are scheduled to go, including recent impressive maiden winners Rock Cod Johnny and Stormed. Six Hitter and Dark Sorcerer also have to be considered contenders.

Who’s hot: Bobby Frankel. The trainer leads the standings at Hollywood Park and has also won with eight of 19 starters at Belmont Park.

Who’s not: Armando Lage. The trainer began Pleasanton on an 0-for-21 streak, unusual for someone hitting at about a 17% clip for the year.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Magnificent Max in the second, using Harvest Girl, Run Rate and Whoopddoo in the third and Lost In Paradise, Heaven’s Treat and In Season in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/132. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10.60/$756.40. Total money bet: $858.