Multiple Grade 1 winner LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) headlines Sunday’s Gold
Rush card at Hollywood Park, a 10-stakes bonanza for California-breds worth a
total of $1.31 million. Other prominent Golden State natives scheduled to appear
on Gold Rush Day include Preakness S. (G1) possible SAM’S ACE (In Excess [Ire]),
impressive sprinter DA STOOPS (Distorted Humor), and Grade 2 queens MOSCOW
BURNING (Moscow Ballet) and PROPOSED (Benchmark).
Exiting a victory in the Santa Anita H. (G1) on the main track, Lava Man
switches to the turf in the $150,000
Khaled S.
The Doug O’Neill charge ranks as the 124-pound highweight in the 1 1/8-mile test
and will break from post 8 with regular partner Corey Nakatani in the irons. The
five-year-old gelding, who sports a career mark of 9-3-3-0 on the green, is
listed at 4-5 on the morning line. Lava Man will face eight rivals, led by
recent Crystal Water H. winner SUPER STRUT (Lil Tyler) and the Dan
Hendricks-trained TOP THIS AND THAT (Old Topper), runner-up in the Strub S. (G2)
in his last outing.
O’Neill also has the morning line favorite in the day’s richest event. Sam’s
Ace has been pegged at 7-5 in the $250,000
Snow
Chief S., a 1 1/8-mile main-track affair that has lured eight
three-year-olds, and O’Neill has said that he could head to Pimlico for the May
20 Preakness if he does well. Sam’s Ace was ambitiously spotted in his stakes
debut, shipping across country for the Florida Derby (G1), but the bay turned in
a creditable fourth-place finish behind the Kentucky Derby (G1)-bound Barbaro (Dynaformer),
Sharp Humor (Distorted Humor) and Sunriver (Saint Ballado). Alex Solis will team
up with the colt from post 3.
His chief competitor will likely be the wickedly fast Da Stoops, breaking
just to his inside in post 2. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 119-pound highweight
made his mark at sprint distances and stretches out to 1 1/8 miles for the first
time. He showed brilliant speed when landing the California Breeders’ Champion
S. and the Sunshine Millions Dash S., then tackled open company in his last two,
placing in the Baldwin S. and the San Pedro S. last out. Victor Espinoza once
again has the call.
In the $150,000
Fran’s Valentine S., classy six-year-old Moscow Burning will shoulder the
top weight of 124 pounds, spotting between eight and 10 pounds to her seven foes
in the 1 1/16-mile turf event for distaffers. The reigning Sunshine Millions
Filly & Mare Turf S. heroine will try to win this crown for the second time,
having taken the 2004 edition. The James Cassidy-conditioned millionaire will be
piloted by David Flores.
El Encino S. (G2) victress Proposed is the class of the six-horse field
assembled for the $150,000
B.
Thoughtful S., a seven-furlong contest for fillies and mares. A homebred
racing for Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod, the dark bay four-year-old was a valiant
second in the Santa Maria H. (G1) and most recently fourth in the Santa
Margarita H. (G1). Pat Valenzuela will escort the 4-5 morning line favorite from
post 5. She will renew rivalry with multiple stakes winner SOMETHINABOUTLAURA
(Dance Floor), who was third in the El Encino.
Other stakes on the card are the $200,000
Melair S. for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles; the $150,000
Tiznow S.,
run at 7 1/2 furlongs for four-year-olds and up; a pair of $70,000 races at
seven furlongs, the
Barretts
S. and its counterpart for females, the
Warren’s
Thoroughbreds S; and two 6 1/2 furlong events for maidens, the
Pepper Oaks Farm S. and its equivalent for the distaff set, the
Magali
Farms S.