Trying to Finish in Baze of Glory

With eight days left in the Hollywood Park spring-summer meet, Tyler Baze is clinging to a lead over Corey Nakatani and Victor Espinoza in the jockey standings.

Baze has 48 victories, two more than Nakatani and four up on Espinoza, who won twice Thursday.

Looking for his first title at one of the major meets on the local circuit, Baze has only three opportunities to pad his lead tonight.

He is named to ride Frosty Breeze in the third, Iron City Jack in the fourth and S.O.S. Be Good in the eighth.

A 3-year-old Chisos gelding owned by Sam Alton and trained by Kevin Lewis, S.O.S. Be Good might be Baze’s best chance. The maiden was much-troubled when eighth in his last start on June 25 and fits off his previous effort, a second to runaway winner Mountain Mustang on June 9.

Frosty Breeze is winless in 11 races since the beginning of last year and is two for 27 lifetime. Iron City Jack is a first-time starter by Captain Bodgit who has trained moderately for Mike Puhich, who is winless in his last 11 with debuting horses.

Race of the day: Excellent Band, who has won four of eight starts, is among six 3-year-olds scheduled to go 5 1/2 furlongs in the $60,000 Ogygian at Belmont Park. Edgar Prado will ride the Dixieland Band colt for Roland Reeley and trainer Valora Testerman against Quick Action, John’s Interview, Forest Grove, War’s Prospect and Smokume.

One for the road: Irish Colonial should make the lead with little effort in Belmont’s sixth, a $50,000 allowance at a mile on the grass, and could win for the third time in eight starts over the layout. Javier Castellano will ride for Randy Schulhofer, who trains the 5-year-old for a partnership.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Shy Patada in the fifth, Camp Del Mar Rules and Dame Fame in the sixth, Old Chinese Copy and John’s Kinda Girl in the seventh, and Village Knight and S.O.S. Be Good in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/141. Money: Previous day/meet total: $16.80/$807.80. Total money bet: $982.