Hollywood Park begins its spring-summer racing season on Friday. The 64-day
meet continues through July 17 with Mondays and Tuesdays dark.
The $75,000 Harry Henson S. for three-year-olds going 5 1/2 furlongs on the
turf is the opening-day feature. Undefeated Baldwin S. (G3) winner HIGH STANDARDS (High Brite), who won the San Pedro S. in his last start, will face 10 rivals under
top weight of 123 pounds.
The $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), which has been run under weight-for-age
conditions since 1997, returns to handicap status for the 66th running on July
9. The Gold Cup, which has been won by eight horses en route to Horse of the
Year honors, will be carded along with the $400,000 Swaps Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) and the
$150,000 A Gleam Invitational H. (G2).
“Through the combined efforts of the Thoroughbred Owners of California
(TOC) and
Hollywood Park, the Gold Cup has been returned to handicap status,” Hollywood
Park Racing Secretary Martin Panza said. “The race has a rich tradition and
we’re hopeful reverting to its roots as a handicap will make it more appealing
nationally.”
Hollywood Park’s $9.46-million stakes schedule includes several multiple
graded stakes days. The most appealing could be the American Oaks card on July
3. The program features five graded races — all international events — with
purses of $1.85 million.
The $750,000 American Oaks (G1), the $350,000 Triple Bend H. (G1) and the
$300,000 Vanity H. (G1) will be featured along with the $250,000 American H.
(G2) and the $200,000 Royal Heroine S. (G3). The American and Royal Heroine were
each increased by $100,000, while the Triple Bend and Vanity had their purses
increased by $50,000.
The 2005 stakes calendar includes 32 graded races. There are seven Grade 1s,
12 Grade 2s and 13 Grade 3s.
The sixth annual Cal National Gold Rush, featuring $1.3 million in stakes
races for California-breds, will take place on Sunday. The highlight of the
10-race program is the $250,000 Cal National Snow Chief S. for three-year-olds
going nine furlongs. The card features a $1 million guaranteed Pick 6 pool.
Every day during the meet there will be a guaranteed Pick 4 pool on the final
four races. Weekdays the pool will be a minimum of $200,000, and on Saturdays a
minimum of $400,000.