HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 22, 2006
by John Mucciolo
Week 3 of the Hollywood Park fall meet was met with its initial potential
disaster, when jockeys would not work horses in the morning on Sunday, citing an
unsatisfactory Cushion Track surface. An unordinary amount of moisture from the
previous night could have had something to do with the issue, and the races were
moved back 40 minutes in order to let the maintenance crew mend the problem.
To summarize, the jockeys and trainers found the surface to be acceptable on
Sunday afternoon, and the races went on as was planned. I’d imagine a collective
sigh of relief went through the Hollywood braintrust.
Two-year-olds had the stakes spotlight this weekend:
Hollywood Prevue S. (G3): Magnier, Tabor, Zayat Stables et al’s
BELGRAVIA (Mr. Greeley) cost $2 million earlier in the year and is starting to
reward his owners with dividends after narrowly escaping this one with a win.
The Patrick Biancone charge was ultra-impressive in his debut, and the
two-year-old had experience on the synthetic surface, leading us to believe that
he was the horse to beat.
A big move turning for home got Belgravia the lead and he opened up some
daylight in midstretch, but the chestnut would have to hold off a furious rally
from Dilemma (Grand Slam) to earn the top prize. Piloted by Julien Leparoux, the
unbeaten freshman got seven furlongs in 1:22 2/5 and appears to have a nice
future ahead of him. Keep an eye on the runner-up also, as the head-bob could
have gone either way.
Moccasin S.: QUICK LITTLE MISS (Freud) didn’t have a horse beaten
after the opening half-mile of this seven furlong affair, but the Mel Stute
trainee put in an overwhelming late kick to take this one beneath Jon Court. The
talented two-year-old miss stopped the timer in 1:24 for seven-eighths on her
way to a second stakes score.
A good effort was put in by runner-up and 4-5 choice Jump On In (Jump Start).
After taking the lead turning for home and opening up a three-length spread in
the lane, the lass tired slightly and had to settle for a minor award. The miss
was worked up a good deal prior to the race, and she’ll surely get better as she
matures.
Track Stats
From a total of 43 races held over the Hollywood Park racetrack, favorites
won at a 37 percent clip, and the top two betting choices combined for 51
percent of the wins from the opening week. From 31 frays contested on the main
oval, 19 percent of all winners won in wire-to-wire fashion, nearly half the
total of the previous week, while two of 12 (16 percent) of the grassy tussles
were taken all the way on the lead. Saturday was most helpful for horses coming
from off the pace on the main oval, as not a single race was taken by a horse on
the lead in the early going, while Thursday yielded three wire-to-wire winners
from six races.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/15)
2ND – TIME TOSAY GOODBYE (Gilded Time) never looked back in soundly defeating
this field under Pat Valenzuela. The three-year-old, Washington-bred, trained by
Mark Glatt, completed the six furlongs in a very sharp 1:09 4/5 and earned a
solid 90 BRIS Speed figure.
7TH – HARVARD AVENUE (You and I), who began his career in the Emerald State,
put in a fine performance for Doug O’Neill. The gelded five-year-old was last
early but made the lead in one sweeping move, and Victor Espinoza did the rest
from there, going seven-eighths in 1:22 1/5. Stakes foes likely await this one.
Thursday (11/16)
7TH – The Paddy Gallagher trainee DANCLARE (Stravinsky) always tries hard and
got rewarded with a victory in here. The mare made her one late run and it was
enough to top this bunch, while making her first appearance since May. Any
improvement from this point on could see the chestnut a factor in graded
company.
Friday (11/17)
8TH – READY TO WALK (Ready to Order) was the lone wire-to-wire winner on this
day, and the John Sadler pupil showed marked improvement in her second start.
Ridden flawlessly by Martin Garcia, the four-year-old intrigues me in that
she’ll likely be a square price in her debut versus winners.
Saturday (11/18)
2ND – DOUBLE MAJOR (Bertrando) made a smashing debut for conditioner Clifford
Sise Jr., attending the pace before pulling away to an easy 1 3/4-length tally
beneath Corey Nakatani. The final time for the six furlongs was just 1:11, but
the way it was done was most impressive. The freshman filly recorded an 85 BRIS
Speed figure for her sharp bow.
9TH – Dilemma was very unlucky not to be in the winner’s circle following the
Prevue for Gallagher. The well-bred colt always fires and hasn’t been worse than
second in his last four starts. An obvious affinity of Cushion Track and the
ability to handle longer distances are two of the things that point to a fine
future for this colt.
A Look Ahead
The Turf Festival is right around the corner, as a six-pack of turf graded
events will be held over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Three of those stakes
are Grade 1s, including the $400,000 Citation H. (G1) on Friday, while Sunday
features the $500,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) and $500,000 Matriarch H. (G1). The
Generous S. (G3) for two-year-olds on Friday, along with Saturday’s Miesque S.
(G3) and Hollywood Turf Express S. (G3), round out the grassy features.