Hollywood Notebook - 12/9

HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK

DECEMBER 9

by Bernard T. Moore

Although the Autumn Turf Festival concluded on Thanksgiving weekend, grass

racing still took center stage at Hollywood Park as the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1),

featuring Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) hero Better Talk Now (Talkin Man), was run

this past Saturday. Better Talk Now was a prohibitive favorite to annex

successive Grade 1 wins, something he has been unable to accomplish in the past.

That fact still rang true after the race had been run, as PELLEGRINO (Brz)

(Nugget Point [Ire]) recorded an upset win at double-digit odds, posting a

hard-earned head decision over the mare Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal) after an

exciting stretch battle.

Pellegrino benefited from a flawless ride and inside trip under jockey Gary

Stevens, as the Brazilian-bred runner seems to do his best when racing along the

rail. Despite being shuffled back approaching the far turn, the winner was able

to re-rally in the stretch, and out-kick the runner-up, who closed from last

place in a sharp effort.

License to Run (Brz) (Exile King), yet another Brazilian bred, had been away

from competition since May and flashed good speed before inexplicably losing

ground nearing the final turn. He found his best stride when swung to the

outside and finished strongly despite lugging in and hampering his rider in the

stretch, beaten by just a quarter of a length in third. The filly Moscow Burning

(Moscow Ballet) responded well to rating tactics to finish another half-length

behind in fourth. Better Talk Now, the even-money favorite, was extremely rank

during the early stages of the race. He loomed a threatening presence once the

field straightened for home, but had nothing left when called upon in the

stretch.

This was Pellegrino's first Grade 1 and stakes victory. Gary Tanaka, whose

success with purchasing South American-bred runners has been well documented,

owns the Donald Burke-trained five-year-old.

Sunday's $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) featured Breeders' Cup Sprint

(G1) participants as Kela (Numerous) (Sprint runner-up), My Cousin Matt (Matty

G) (third) and Our New Recruit (Alphabet Soup) (12th) in its lineup. However,

when it was all said and done, it would be the rank outsider in the field, TASTE

OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo), who would splash his way to victory over the

moisture laden track.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., the five-year-old sat a perfect trip off a

suicidal speed duel on the front end. On the far turn, Taste of Paradise was

maneuvered to the outside for the stretch run as Watchem Smokey (Alphabet Soup)

was also finding his best stride toward the rail. The pair rallied in tandem

down the stretch, engulfing a beleaguered My Master (Arg) (Southern Halo), who

was part of a wicked pace scenario.

Watchem Smokey got to the front-runner first, assuming a tenuous lead in deep

stretch. But, he could not withstand Taste of Paradise's determined late run,

winding up on the wrong end of an extremely tight photo. My Master held gamely

for third, beaten only two lengths in a game effort. Kela was obviously only a

shell of his former self, finishing a non-threatening fourth, and he's probably

not fully recovered from the 104 fever that he spiked in New York in late

November. Our New Recruit disputed a mercurial pace and dropped back to fifth as

his early exploits began took their toll in the final furlong. My Cousin Matt

leapt in the air at the start from his inside post, immediately costing him four

lengths. He raced at the back of the pack throughout because of that incident

and never made his presence felt.

Taste of Paradise had his blinkers removed for the Underwood by trainer Gary

Mandella, who saddled his first graded stakes winner. The dark bay was

transferred to Mandella's barn after an abysmal showing in the Pat O'Brien

Breeders' Cup H. (G2) at Del Mar, a race in which he contracted an abscess in

his left hind foot, which dictated an absence from competition.

The main track appeared bias free much of the week, but it definitely was

favoring Early runners in both sprints and routes over the weekend. The only

apparent path bias appeared on Saturday, when the rail was extremely live. The

turf course appeared to be bias free the entire week.

Doug O'Neill continues to lead all trainers with 12 victories, followed by

Bob Baffert, who has registered 10 wins. Mike Harrington, John W. Sadler and

Jeff Mullins complete the top five. All of Baffert's wins have come over the

main track, and trainer Mike Harrington continues to wield a hot hand in

sprints.

Rene Douglas, with 21 victories to his credit, holds a five-win lead over

Tyler Baze and Victor Espinoza. David Flores holds down the fourth spot, while

Midwest transplant Jon Court completes the top five, having ridden nine winners.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (12/1)

4TH – TOO MEAN (Flying Continental) showed vast improvement adding blinkers

in his second career start. Flashed surprise speed while chasing a superior pace

rival who carved out a fast half-mile and finished with interest to be clear for

the show. Sophomore has the pedigree to handle a route of ground and is eligible

for Cal-bred races.

Thursday (12/2)

4TH – BLAIRS ROARIN STAR (Roar) held grimly after setting a quick, pressured

pace while racing three-wide down the backstretch off a freshening. Won the pace

battle but lost the war to a fresh closer.

5TH – LUNAR DREAMS (Bonus Money) displayed dramatic form reversal switching

to grass and stretching out in her first start for trainer Joe Parga against

allowance company. Stalked a slow pace on the front end and yielded grudgingly

late to an odds-on winning favorite. Three-year-old miss fits well at this level

on turf.

Friday (12/3)

6TH – DONNYBROOK PRIDE (Doneraile Court) was allowed to settle too far off

the early pace. Juvenile was caught extremely wide on the far turn while in the

midst of a strong rally and continued widest of all in the stretch. He was not

punished late to improve his position and would benefit from a more astute ride,

as his closing kick needs to be timed just right. Would also benefit from a drop

into a maiden claimer.

7TH – MOONLIGHT CRUISE (Silver Deputy) finished a sharp third in her

Hollywood Park main track debut. Began to find her best stride in the stretch

off a layoff, but she wasn't able to launch an all-out rally late when caught in

cramped quarters in the final sixteenth of a mile, costing her the place. May be

seen next on turf, the surface of only two victories thus far, and she galloped

out nicely past the wire.

9TH – BRITE LORELEI (High Brite) was away slowly from the gate in a well

bet/well meant debut. Recovered nicely, but had the misfortune of chasing a

superior speed rival dropping down from maiden special weight contests,

finishing seven-lengths clear of the show horse. Two-year-old lass is bred for a

sprint and to win early in her career, and all three of her siblings to race

have won, two of them as juveniles.

Saturday (12/4)

5TH – NIGHT BOKBEL (Ire) (Night Shift) trailed the field down the backstretch

after a slow break cost him 1 1/2 lengths. Compromised by pedestrian fractions

on the front end, the five-year-old was forced to close while racing in tight

quarters and finished extremely well late for second in first start for Frankel

over firm footing. May want more ground.

6TH – WHAT'S THAT SOUND (Thunder Gulch) showed dramatic form reversal

switching to the main track and dropping in class. Closed like a runaway train

in the stretch while widest of all vs. a winner who enjoyed a perfect trip. Bred

top and bottom for a distance of ground.

Sunday (12/5)

6TH – Our New Recruit was hard-used disputing fast fractions on the lead. Was

not disgraced all things considered and could be slowly rounding back into best

form.