Better Talk Now looms large in Hollywood Turf Cup

Better Talk Now will try to add to his resume with a win on Saturday (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) hero
BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) will seek his third
major turf victory of the year when he heads to the post for Saturday’s $250,000
Hollywood Turf Cup (G1). The Graham Motion-trained five-year-old gelding, who
also captured the Sword Dance Invitational H. (G1) in August and remains a
candidate for champion turf horse, will have the services of Ramon Dominguez in
his first California appearance. A field of nine, including two distaffers, has
been entered for the 1 1/2-mile contest.

Group 1 Brazilian winner LICENSE TO RUN (Brz) (Exile King) will make his U.S.
bow in the Hollywood Turf Cup for new trainer Bobby Frankel. Garrett Gomez has
the mount on the four-year-old colt. Another male contender is HABANEROS
(Tabasco Cat), who exits a victory in the Carleton F. Burke H. (G3) and owns a
3-1-0 mark from four starts in 2004.

Distaffers MEGAHERTZ (GB) (Pivotal) and MOSCOW BURNING (Moscow Ballet) will
test their mettle on Saturday. The Grade 1-winning Megahertz, a nine-time stakes
winner overall, owns the class to be effective at the marathon distance and
should be running late under the hot-riding Rene Douglas. Moscow Burning exits a
front-running, fourth-place showing in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)
and will likely be a major pace presence from the start here. The ladies will
carry 123 pounds each, a three-pound weight allowance from their male rivals.