HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 30, 2007
by John Mucciolo
Seven graded stakes races took place over the Holiday Weekend, six of which
were part of the Hollywood Turf Festival:
Matriarch S. (G1): Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred PRECIOUS KITTEN
(Catienus) took over approaching the final turn and was impossible to run down
late in taking this one for conditioner Bobby Frankel. The superb four-year-old
was always prominent under Rafael Bejarano before putting in her winning run,
reaching the wire in a sparkling 1:33 3/5 for the one-mile grass test.
Hollywood Derby (G1): Davenport, Lenner et al’s DAYTONA (Ire) (Indian
Ridge) took the lead soon after the start and was never challenged in recording
his biggest win to date for trainer Dan Hendricks. The vastly improved gelding
clocked 10 furlongs in 1:59 3/5 under Mike Smith in posting his second straight
impressive graded win.
Citation H. (G1): Nigel Shields’ LANG FIELD (Langfuhr) gained the
advantage inside the final furlong and gamely held under Jon Court to spring the
upset in this one. The nearly 19-1 outsider stalked behind the top pair entering
the stretch and kept on from there, going 1 1/16 miles on the firm green in a
solid 1:39 3/5 for conditioner Art Sherman.
Miesque S. (G3): Stonerside Stable’s homebred SEA CHANTER (War Chant)
lived up to her favored billing with a strong close under Mike Smith. The Todd
Pletcher trainee was three parts of a length clear at the wire while clocking
one mile on the firm lawn in 1:35 4/5.
Hollywood Turf Express H. (G3): Trainer Barry Abrams et al’s oft-raced
UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat) found the winner’s circle for the second straight
time with a flying finish under Tyler Baze. The winner was last turning for home
but flew down the stretch with a fury, stopping the teletimer in 1:09 for the
six-furlong grass test.
Generous S. (G3): Michael Tabor et al’s THE LEOPARD (Storm Cat) swept
to the front in early stretch and powered home to a no-doubt, 2 1/4-length win
for Pletcher and Garrett Gomez. The talented two-year-old colt finished off
the grassy one-mile in 1:34 1/5, including a final two furlongs in :23 2/5.
Hollywood Prevue S. (G3): Zayat Stable’s MASSIVE DRAMA (Kafwain) broke
poorly but soon took over before cruising home a 1 3/4-length victor to remain
unbeaten from two lifetime starts. The Bob Baffert speedster clocked
seven-eighths in a brilliant 1:21 2/5 beneath Kent Desormeaux and really looks
the part.
Track Stats
From a total of 46 races held over the Inglewood racetrack during the week,
favorites won at a 24 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for
50 percent of the wins. From 30 frays contested on the Cushion Track, only four
animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (14 percent), while three of the 16 grassy
tussles went all the way on the lead (19 percent).
There was only one favored winner over the opening two days of the week, but
six alone on Saturday. Early speed was of no advantage on the main oval as only
two winners led at every call over the first four days of the race week, and
four wire jobs overall.
The Hollywood turf course has been fair to all types, pacesetters, stalkers,
pressers and deep closers.
Runners breaking from posts 1-to-3 won half of the races during the opening
week, including 15 of the final 28 races over the weekend, marking the third
consecutive week where the inside posts have captured more than 45 percent of
the contests.
Meet Totals:
| RACES: | 131 | |||
| DIRT: | 91 | |||
| TURF: | 40 | |||
| FAVORITES: | 37 | (28 percent) | ||
| 2ND CHOICES: | 31 | (24 percent) | ||
| TURF WIRE: | 11 | (28 percent) | ||
| DIRT WIRE: | 16 | (18 percent) |
Post Positions (wins):
| RAIL: | 20 | (15 percent) | ||
| 1-3: | 62 | (47 percent) | ||
| 4-6: | 35 | (27 percent) | ||
| 7-out: | 34 | (26 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/21)
1ST — INCLUSIVE (Include) displayed a strong closing kick to break his maiden
for Ron Ellis. The three-year-old completed his final three-sixteenths in a
superb :29 3/5 and is a candidate to win right back.
Thursday (11/22)
6TH — ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) was spectacular in her debut, closing from
last to win going away for John Shirreffs. The sophomore lass is a half-sister
to the talented Balance (Thunder Gulch) and could follow in the hoofsteps of that
multiple Grade 1 star.
7TH — Massive Drama was well-meant in his sharp debut and followed
that up with a convincing score for Baffert. The expensive two-year-old
overcame a tardy break to lead at every call in his initial try versus winners.
It’s hard to know how far the colt will go, but he’s an awfully good sprinter.
Friday (11/23)
4TH — TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) won against the bias and gives the
impression of one who could be good in the near future. The Beau Greeley gelding
led at every call and looked like he could have negotiated another furlong with
ease.
Saturday (11/24)
5TH — MACELLYA (Fr) (Testa Rossa) closed from well back in her U.S. debut
and should progress in her second stateside try. The juvenile lass reeled off a
final quarter-mile in a brisk :22 2/5 and should be especially tough in her
subsequent outing.
8TH — CURIOUSLY SWEET (Mud Route) further proved her affinity for the
synthetic going with a facile tally in this spot for John Sadler. The California-bred took command turning for home and posted a strong 4
1/2-length victory
beneath Patrick Valenzuela.
9TH — DESERT CODE (E Dubai) showed good speed, was passed and re-rallied late
in a courageous effort off a four-month layoff for David Hofmans. The juvenile
loves sprinting on the lawn and he’s a win candidate anytime he steps on the
green.
A Look Ahead
A pair of graded stakes races will highlight the upcoming week at Hollywood
— Saturday’s $150,000 Bayakoa H. (G2) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles,
and the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood H. (G3) over six panels on Sunday.