Get A Hunch/Bet A Bunch

The cooperation between horsemen and the race office is almost palpable as Playfair gets down to the final 11 race days of the season.

Trainers who haven’t gone home for Thanksgiving are trying to keep the one or two horses in their barns who still want to run away from the eight or nine who are undecided.

Mindful of that, racing secretary Mike Pfliger and director of racing Ted Martin have established some generous conditions.

Tonight’s fifth, for example, is for senior citizens who haven’t won since Snooky Lansen sang “Hound Dog” on Your Hit Parade.

It’s not that wide-open, but the fifth did come up for older horses who haven’t won in 2000.

Or in 1999.

In other words, about half of these one-time warriors are fit but slow. The other half are fast but rusty. Take your pick.

I could refuse to testify on this one - take the Fifth, you might say - but these fifth-race unknowns could produce some decent pays.

Paul Wise and his trainer, Elvis Singh Sr., have a shot with Pozo. Anybody named Elvis Singh - senior or junior - is awfully hard to ignore.

One Sharp Sam was only 2 lengths off the pace at the six-furlong mark last out, and cuts back to that distance tonight. Irish Nick Wish, a rallying third last time, is on the improve. J.B.’s Gone might go under jockey Jack Kaenel. Bound For Glory has been off for nearly 2-1/2 years, but comes back for Mike Noyes with a bullet workout.

In other words, get out the blindfold and the darts and chuck away.

It’s only money.

In the Arabian division, trainer Patricia Gregg will try to make it 22 in-the-money finishes in 32 starts with Sar Carol Tess in tonight’s opener.

The stabs:.

SECOND: $25 to win, $50 to place on CHARITY LINE. $2 exacta box BANANASBUSTERBOY, WHAS HAPPNIN and CHARITY LINE. $20 to place on CHARITY LINE. Parlay winnings on ALY MACKEE to place in the third. Parlay winnings to IRISH FIRE to place in the fourth. Parlay winnings to ANDINA to place in the sixth.

FIFTH: $10 to win, $15 to place on ONE SHARP SAM.

SIXTH: $3 across on ALLONYM. $1 exacta box ALLONYM, SAY GRACE FIRST JO and ANDINA. $1 trifecta box same three. $1 trifecta wheel ALLONYM with SAY GRACE FIRST JO and ANDINA for second with ALL for third.

SEVENTH: $2 exacta box TEXAS OIL, SON OF A DIPLOMAT and ENTERPRISING. $1 trifecta box same three. $1 exacta box, box STICH n’ WEAVE with those three. $25 to win, $25 to place on TEXAS OIL.

EIGHTH: $1 superfecta wheel C.L.’S GIRL and SKIPHOF for first and second with SUZIE LITTLE CARR and CHARMINGER for third and fourth. $1 exacta box, box FLIGHT OF EAGLES with those four.

Last time out (Sunday): Lost $51.

Bottom line: Down $1,132.30 for the meeting.