Grade 2 winner CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill), third when trying the Cushion
Track in the Santa Anita H. (G1) last time out, will switch back to the turf in
Saturday’s $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2) at Hollywood Park. Trained by
Bobby Frankel, the classy five-year-old captured a French Group 3 event and
finished second in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club (Ity-G1) before arriving in
the United States last fall. He recorded a second in the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood
Turf Cup (G1) when making his U.S. debut in December and opened 2008 with a
facile score in the San Marcos S. (G2) at Santa Anita.
Champs Elysees will face four rivals in the 1 1/2-mile Jim Murray with jockey
Ramon Dominguez, and San Luis Rey H. (G2) hero BOULE D’OR (Ire) (Croco Rouge) is
the one to catch in the short field. Claimed for $50,000 by the Jeff Mullins
operation three starts back, the seven-year-old rolled to a 3 1/2-length win in an
allowance/optional claiming event in his first start for his new connections and
then stretched out to 12 furlongs in the San Luis Rey, opening up by 10 lengths
on his rivals during the early stages. Boule d’Or held on to win by three parts of
a length, and he looms as the lone speed once again in the Jim Murray. Tyler
Baze will return to the saddle.
Defending champion ON THE ACORN (GB) (Inchinor [GB]) closed from off the pace
to win last year’s edition by a half-length, but that was the multiple Grade 2
winner’s final start in 2007. Fourth in the San Juan Capistrano H. (G2) most
recently, the Mike Mitchell-trained gelding will attempt to snap a three-race
losing streak this season. Italian Group 1 winner SUDAN (Ire) (Peintre Celebre),
last seen finishing eighth in the February 23 San Luis Obispo H. (G2), will make
his second U.S. engagement for Frankel on Saturday, and San Luis Obispo H. (G2)
runner-up CHURCH SERVICE (Pulpit) rounds out the field.
Boule d’Or will lead the post parade under a 115-pound impost. Next comes
Champs Elysees, 119; Church Service, Victor Espinoza, 113; Sudan, Jose Valdivia
Jr., 115; and On the Acorn, Brice Blanc, 115.
Santa Anita will also offer a pair of Grade 3 events. Eleven sophomore
fillies have been entered in the $100,000
Senorita
S. (G3), and DECORATOR (Storm Cat) will make her stakes debut in the
one-mile turf test. A sharp maiden special weight victress two starts back, the
Richard Mandella-trained miss exits a victory over allowance/optional claiming
rivals on April 6. Decorator hails from multiple stakes winner Words of War
(Lord at War [Arg]) and counts 2000 Del Mar Oaks (G1) heroine No Matter What (Nureyev)
and multiple Grade 2-winning sire E Dubai (Mr. Prospector) as half-siblings. Blue Norther S.
victress GORGEOUS GOOSE (Mongoose) and Las Virgenes S. (G1) runner-up
LOVELY ISLE (Double Honor) also merit serious consideration.
The $100,000
Los
Angeles H. (G3) will feature a field of nine sprinters, including SAILORS
SUNSET (Petionville) and PEACE CHANT (War Chant), the top two respective
finishers in last year’s running of the six-furlong event. Grade 1 king BILO
(Bertrando) and multiple Grade 3 winner BONFANTE (Fruition) are also entered.