ASHKAL WAY (Ire) (Ashkalani), winner of the Kelso Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) and
Bernard Baruch H. (G2) in his last two starts, will attempt to run his winning
skein to three while making his first start in California in Friday’s $400,000
Citation H. (G1) at Hollywood Park. Owned by Godolphin and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the
four-year-old gelding has captured five of six starts since being imported to
the United States, the lone setback being a close runner-up finish in the
Fourstardave H. (G2) three races back. Garrett Gomez will ride the 119-pound co-highweight.
ROB ROY (Lear Fan) and BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan) will also tote 119 pounds.
Rob Roy, an English Group 2 winner this season, recorded an excellent second to
the top-class mare Pride (Peintre Celebre) in the Champion S. (Eng-G1)
before shipping to the United States for a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’
Cup Mile (G1) last out. Neil Drysdale has taken over the training duties for the
four-year-old colt, and Corey Nakatani will pick up the mount. Drysdale will
also send out the uncoupled Becrux, who exits a victory in the Woodbine Mile
(Can-G1) and will keep Pat Valenzuela in the saddle.
Other contenders include Grade 2 victor SILENT NAME (Jpn) (Sunday Silence),
who set the pace in the Breeders’ Cup Mile before tiring to sixth; the Bobby
Frankel-trained THREE VALLEYS (Diesis [GB]), who finished third in the 2004
Citation; and multiple Grade 1 hero SWEET RETURN (GB) (Elmaamul).
The complete cast, from the rail with riders and imposts, is HENDRIX (Sultry
Song), David Flores, 114; Rob Roy; STORMIN AWAY (Skip Away), Martin Garcia, 113;
Silent Name, Victor Espinoza, 116; Becrux; WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan), David
Cohen, 117; COURTNALL (Cherokee Run), Alex Bisono, 115; COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop
Kid), Edgar Prado, 116; BRAVO MAESTRO (Stravinsky), Tyler Baze, 113; Sweet
Return, Alex Solis, 116; Ashkal Way; and Three Valleys, Ramon Dominguez, 117.
The Generous S. (G3) for juveniles highlights the undercard and has been
split into nine-horse divisions. Both are worth $75,000 and will be run at a
mile on the turf. The
first division
includes Pinjara S. runner-up WARNING ZONE
(Chester House) and Real Quiet S. runner-up UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat). The
second division
features Pinjara winner WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire) (Royal Applause
[GB]) and Real Quiet winner ROMAN COMMANDER (Deputy Commander).
The $100,000
Cat’s Cradle H. will also be held on Friday, and the 7
1/2-furlong event has attracted five-time stakes queen CAMBIOCORSA (Avenue of
Flags), who will try the Cushion Track off a third-place finish in the
California Cup Distaff H. on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita. Two
starts back, the Doug O’Neill-trained filly captured the Senator Ken Maddy H.
(G3). All nine of her career wins have come on the grass.