HOLLYWOOD
NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 18
by Bernard T. Moore
Week two of the Hollywood Park fall meet is now in the books
and was brought to a successful close this past weekend with a
pair of California-bred stakes races.
On Saturday, the On Trust H. for three year olds and up was run at the tricky 7 1/2-furlong distance. It
was an extremely contentious race on paper, with Areyoutalkintome
(Smokester) enjoying lukewarm favoritism. However, it would be ANZIYAN ROYALTY (Anziyan) that would carry the day as the 5-2
second choice.
Stalking a brisk pace while outside of rivals down the
backstretch, Anziyan Royalty moved up to engage the pacesetters on
the far turn. He then out-finished Lava Man (Slew City Slew) in
the stretch to register a hard-fought, one-length victory. The
pair distanced themselves from the field in the stretch, battling
heads apart to the wire before Anziyan Royalty edged
away late. Lava Man was gallant in defeat, finishing five lengths
in front of Jack’s Silver (Soft Gold [Brz]) for second money
after dueling for the lead from the outset.
The Craig Dollase-trained winner is a perfect four-for-four at
Hollywood Park and recorded his first stakes success in the On
Trust with jockey David Flores aboard. Areyoutalkintome never
reached serious contention and finished fourth.
California-bred fillies and mares took center stage on Sunday
in the Cat’s Cradle H., the sister race to the On Trust. In the
Cat’s Cradle, the prohibitive favorite was ROYALLY CHOSEN (In
Excess [Ire]), and handicappers were right on the mark as she
dominated five rivals to win by a facile three-length margin.
Ridden by Flores, who captured his second stakes of the
weekend, the Bruce Headley-trained mare attended the pace from
the start, before asserting her superiority in the stretch,
eclipsing the prior Cat’s Cradle stakes record from last year.
Cyber Slew (Siberian Summer) was a part of the early pace
scenario, but could not match strides with the winner, and nosed
out Tucked Away (Unusual Heat) for second, as those two rivals
staged their own private match race for place in the stretch.
The main track appeared bias free on Wednesday and Friday.
However, runners with early speed absolutely held an edge on
Thursday and over the weekend. There was no discernible bias on
the turf all week, and no particular path bias was apparent as
well.
Doug O’Neill continues to lead all trainers with six
victories, while Bob Baffert, Mike Harrington, Mike Mitchell and
John Sadler are all tied for second with four victories apiece. Half of
O’Neill’s wins have come on turf, and he leads all trainers in
the category. Conversely, all four of Mike Harrington’s wins have
been in dirt sprints.
Jockeys Rene Douglas and Victor Espinoza share the top spot
for leading rider with nine wins apiece. Flores, Tyler Baze,
Felipe Martinez and Corey Nakatani are bunched together with
eight victories each in second. Nakatani is “king”
when it comes to grass, as six of his eight wins have come over
the inner course. Thus far this has been a break out meet for
Martinez, as he trails Nakatani in grass wins, showing six
successes to his credit.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/10)
2ND – ORANGE ‘EM (West By West) showed vast improvement making
his first start for trainer Michael Pender. He broke a bit awkwardly
leaving the gate and then recovered to go head and head for the
lead vs. a dropdown winning favorite. Finishing with interest
despite drifting a bit in the stretch, he was clearly second best. The
five-year-old fits very well at seven furlongs and the $12,500 claiming level.
3RD – The third-place finish of LAMBAMTA BABE (Skywalker) was
much better than appears on paper. He was hindered by rather soft
fractions while returning from the shelf for trainer Bobby
Frankel and found it difficult to reduce his deficit late as the
pace quickened noticeably while he was pinned down along the
inside in the stretch. The five-year-old gelding would benefit by
a more honest pace scenario on the front end and may prefer to
run outside of horses as well.
Thursday (11/11)
2ND – PRIVATE CHEF (Partner’s Hero) finished a creditable
third making first start off a prolonged layoff for trainer John
Sheriffs. He changed his normal running style when dictating the
early pace in his well bet return and held well until deep
stretch, where his rustiness began to show. The four-year-old
surrendered the place in the final strides, but he gained
valuable fitness and should be very dangerous next time while
probably reverting to rating tactics.
4TH – RESPLENDENCY (Tale of the Cat) direly needed this race
returning from the shelf for trainer Baffert. She was forced to
race along the inside, which she did not seem to like, but still
finished with interest late, galloping out well past the wire.
The sophomore miss may ultimately be better suited to a route of
ground.
Friday (11/12)
4TH – QUE BORGES (Arg) (Johnny’s Prospect) turned in a sharp
second-place performance off a short freshening for trainer A. C.
Avila, a live outfit at the current Hollywood Park meet. The five-year-old
gelding, who was returning to the level from which he was
claimed, attended the pace down the backstretch and responded
gamely when hooked by the odds-on favorite on the far turn. Que
Borges battled gamely to the wire and may prove tougher next time.
He fits best at the $10,000 claiming level and distances up to a
mile.
8TH – IMATOWERTOO (Emerald Jig) outran his long odds in his
Hollywood Park debut while returning to a sprint. He reduced his
deficit in the stretch only to be compromised by weak handling
while attempting to drift in a bit.
Saturday (11/13)
6TH – DOMINGO JUAN (Arg) (Halo Sunshine) dispensed a good
effort reverting to rating tactics. He relaxed nicely off the
pace down the backstretch, but was caught in heavy traffic behind
horses attempting to rally on the turn and again in the stretch. The
six-year-old flew home for second when finally clear in the stretch.
8TH – JACK’S SILVER (Soft Gold [Brz]) was overmatched against
the likes of Anziyan Royalty and Lava Man, more accomplished
runners in this Cal-bred stakes, and he wasn’t helped by the fact
that he was allowed to lag far behind early. He finished with good
energy for third against a fast final fraction. Jack’s Silver
would definitely benefit by some class relief, and is eligible
for much softer company.
9TH – THUNDER MAKER (Thunder Gulch) ran “sneaky well”
in his debut. He hopped into the air at the start, costing him
about a length, and was not asked for much run down the
backstretch. The juvenile found his best stride entering the stretch, but then
had to be carefully handled when bothered by a drifting out rival. He closed well late between horses for third.
Sunday (11/14)
1ST – CRYPTOS’ BEST (Cryptoclearance) ran well late for third vs.
a speed conducive course off a prolonged layoff. The bay miss should have
derived beneficial conditioning from this effort and is expected
to move forward off her initial Hollywood Park experience.