Hollywood Derby (G1)

Thirteen sophomores will contest Sunday’s Hollywood Derby (G1),
a 1 1/4-mile turf event for three-year-olds, and we’ll take
BLACKDOUN (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]), who was handed his first loss
stateside when finishing seventh last out in the Breeders’ Cup
Mile (G1). The Julio Canani trainee enjoys closing from the back,
as he did successfully in the La Jolla H. (G2) and the Del Mar
Derby (G2) earlier this fall, and should have a nice setup for
another come-from-behind win here. The gray has beaten two other
colts in this field, LAURA’S LUCKY BOY (Theatrical [Ire]) and
FAST AND FURIOUS (Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]), both in the Del Mar
Derby. He has never run 10 furlongs, but we think he’ll stretch
out nicely here.

The Shug McGaughey-trained GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat) comes off a
brief layoff after a win in the Storm Cat S. at Keeneland in
October. He owns some nice works since then and we like the colt
to get up for part. The bay gets Jerry Bailey in the irons and
should be respected.

Laura’s Lucky Boy will get the services of Gary Stevens, who
has ridden the bay in his last two starts, a second in the Oak
Tree Derby (G2) and third in the Del Mar Derby. The Jason Orman
trainee appears to be able to handle the distance, but may get
caught in a speed duel on the front end and run down by our top
selection. We’ll use him in the gimmicks.

HENDRIX (Sultry Song) enters off a third in the Bay Meadows
Derby (G3) and a good third in the Oak Tree. We’ll use the Craig
Dollase trainee in the bottom of the exotics. Andreas Schutz
sends out FIGHT CLUB (Ger) (Lavirco), who makes his U.S. bow here.
A Group 3 winner at this distance earlier this year, the dark bay
may have shipped well and could surprise.

Fast and Furious has been 10 furlongs, taking an allowance at
this distance in his native France at the end of his two-year-old
season. He can get the distance, but the class hike may be a
problem, as he finished fifth in the Del Mar and may be
overmatched here. The Kristin Mulhall-trained IMPERIALISM (Langfuhr)
was considered a logical contender for the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky
Derby (G1) earlier this year, a race in which the gray finished
third. He owns some turf experience, but has not won over the sod.
We’ll let him beat us.

JOURSANVAULT (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]) makes his first start in the
U.S. here, and may be ambitiously placed. TIMO (El Prado [Ire])
has been off for more than five months, and we’ll give him a race.
TERROPLANE (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]) has tried these rivals before and
not been successful. A win would be surprising.

WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan) enters off a stakes win but has not
performed well at this level. ON THE ACORN (GB) (Inchinor [GB])
enters much the same as Terroplane, having lost to Laura’s Lucky
Boy and Blackdoun on multiple occasions. We’ll watch for now. BIG
SQUEEZE (Petionville) was seventh in the Bay Meadows Derby and
finished fourth at this distance in an allowance two back, but
the Marcelo Polanco trainee is less experienced than these and
may need a start at this level.