Hollywood Park’s Memorial Day card boasts two Grade 1 turf contests that have
attracted deep and talented fields. The $300,000 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile S.
(G1) features seven grass specialists, led by Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) king
MILK IT MICK (GB) (Millkom [GB]), while the $300,000 Gamely Breeders’ Cup S.
(G1) for fillies and mares offers a rematch between SHARP LISA (Dixieland Band)
and ETERNAL MELODY (NZ) (Shinko King), the top two from the Santa Barbara H.
(G2) who needed a photo to separate them.
The Shoemaker will help to establish the pecking order for the West Coast
milers, separating future Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) contenders from pretenders.
Milk It Mick has yet to run a bad race since coming to the United States four
starts back. After his narrow Kilroe score, the Jim Cassidy charge was third in
the Arcadia H. (G2) to SILENT NAME (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) and then a troubled
third in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) at Churchill Downs. David
Flores will renew his partnership with the five-year-old, who has drawn post 5.
Silent Name is another formerly European-based horse to find new life in
America, capturing both of his U.S. starts for Gary Mandella. The impressive
Arcadia winner has not raced since that effort on April 8, but that is in
keeping with Mandella’s grand strategy to get his colt to the Breeders’ Cup in
peak form.
“He has responded so well to freshening that I’m going to try not to overrace
him,” Mandella said.
Trainer Bobby Frankel will be represented by DIAMOND GREEN (Fr) (Green
Desert), a French Group 3 winner who placed in three Group 1 events in 2004. In
his 2006 debut, he scored in an allowance/optional claimer over one mile at
Santa Anita. Alex Solis picks up the mount.
All of the remaining five Shoemaker entrants finished behind Milk It Mick in
the Kilroe. Two have come back to win their next outings — CHARMO (Fr) (Charnwood
Forest [Ire]), successful in the San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile S. (G2), and
WILLOW O WISP (Misnomer), who wired the field in the Inglewood H. (G3) at this
course.
The complete field, in post position order, is composed of TERROPLANE (Fr) (Verglas
[Ire]), Jose Valdivia Jr.; Charmo, Martin Pedroza; Diamond Green; Silent Name,
Victor Espinoza; Milk It Mick; Willow O Wisp, David Cohen; and ARAGORN (Ire)
(Giant’s Causeway), Corey Nakatani.
Each runner will carry 124 pounds.
In the 1 1/8-mile Gamely, Sharp Lisa will tote the top weight of 120 pounds,
including Nakatani. The Doug O’Neill trainee was a Grade 1 winner on the
main track last year before testing the grass, and the chestnut ratified the
surface switch by winning the Santa Barbara in her second turf start. On that
day, she just narrowly held on from the late-charging Eternal Melody, and that
Frankel mare will try to turn the tables on Monday with new jockey Flores.
Frankel has another serious chance at landing the spoils courtesy of
ARGENTINA (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). Although she could manage only fourth in the
Santa Barbara, the well bred four-year-old has plenty of European back class and
was a smashing runner-up in the Santa Ana H. (G2) in her American debut. Solis
will be back aboard.
HOLLYWOOD STORY (Wild Rush), also a Grade 1 heroine on the dirt, will hope to
emulate Sharp Lisa by finding new life on the lawn. Another classy mare seeking
to return to her best form is multiple Grade 1 winner TICKER TAPE (GB) (Royal
Applause [GB]), who has not won a graded stakes since October 2004, but has
often run well in defeat.
German Group 3 victress DALICIA (Ger) (Acatenango) will break from the rail
with 116 pounds, including Cohen, on her back. To her outside, in order, come SHINING
ENERGY (Rahy), Espinoza, 118; Ticker Tape, Valdivia, 116; Hollywood Story,
Pedroza, 116; Argentina, 116; Sharp Lisa; DANCING EDIE (Moscow Ballet), Tyler
Baze, 116; and Eternal Melody, 116.
Earlier on the program, the $65,000
Manhattan Beach S. has drawn a field of eight sophomore fillies to sprint 5
1/2 grassy furlongs. Three-time stakes winner SILLY LITTLE MAMA (Old Topper),
Barretts Debutante S. winner CATCH MY FANCY (Yes It’s True), Tapestry S. winner
EL MIRAGE QUEEN (Gilded Time) and Senorita S. (G3) third SHERMEEN (Ire) (Desert
Style) are among the contenders.