Chocolate Candy, Pioneerof the Nile highlight 12-horse
CashCall Futurity
Real Quiet S. winner CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) and Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile (G1) fifth-placer PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker) are top draws in
Saturday’s $750,000
CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park. An exciting field of 12 juveniles
will square off in the 1 1/16-mile event over the Cushion Track.
Chocolate Candy will bring a two-race winning into his graded debut, and the
Jerry Hollendorfer-trained colt will pick up a new rider in Rafael Bejarano.
Garrett Gomez, who was up for Chocolate Candy’s 1 1/2-length score in the
November 8 Real Quiet, will take over the reins aboard Pioneerof the Nile. Now
trained by Bob Baffert, Pioneerof the Nile finished third in the Breeders’
Futurity (G1) before recording a troubled third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
The Zayat Stables colorbearer has been training forwardly over the Pro Ride at
Santa Anita in preparation.
MR. ROD (Scrimshaw) and BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic), a pair of Grade 3 turf
winners, will both switch to the main track for the CashCall. Mr. Rod exits a
gate-to-wire victory in the November 29 Generous S. (G3), and Bittel Road, who
finished a fast-closing second in the Generous, captured the Bourbon S. (G3) at
Keeneland for Todd Pletcher.
Other contenders include AZUL LEON (Lion Heart) and VENTANA (Toccet), the
second- and third-place finishers in the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3), and Northern
California shipper FRUMINOUS (Grindstone), who will bring a three-race winning
streak into his graded debut.