HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 15, 2006
by John Mucciolo
Week 2 of the Hollywood Park fall meet was quite challenging, yielding a trio
of Pick 6 carryovers including one in excess of $500,000 leading into
Wednesday’s card. The Cushion Track has won me over and appears to be playing
differently than its counterpart, Polytrack. The latter gave little to no hope
for pacesetters of many of its route events, while winning on the lead on
Cushion Track seems well within reach. With just two weeks in the books, it’s
still too early to tell any long-term effects that the new surface will have,
but we’ll continue to monitor the going.
Hermosa Beach H.: Cynthia Knight’s homebred BEND A LITTLE (Benny the Dip) surged three wide
into the stretch and proved the best on this occasion for trainer Christophe
Clement. The five-year-old mare was the recipient of a ground saving trip from
Jose Valdivia Jr., but it may not have mattered where the dark bay was
positioned, as she was an easy victress. The winner traveled 1 1/2 miles over the
firm Hollywood turf in 2:29, and earned a career topping 97 BRIS Speed figure en
route to her initial stakes triumph.
Audrey Skirball-Kenis S.: Stronach Stables’ homebred CITRONNADE (Lemon Drop Kid) put away pacesetter
Kris’ Sis (Forestry) with ease and held a hard charging Zoemeg (Snuck In) at bay
in the latter stages to earn the victory in here. Trained by Bobby Frankel and
ridden by David Flores, the improving sophomore lass got nine furlongs on the
grass in 1:49 2/5, which included a superb :11 1/5 final furlong. This marks the
second turf stakes win for the filly, who appears to have a world of potential
on the grass. We weren’t impressed with the filly leading up to the race, but we
left with a totally different opinion following the outcome.
Track Stats
From a total of 40 races held over the Hollywood Park racetrack, favorites
won at a 30 percent, and the top two betting choices combined for 45
percent of the wins from opening week. From 26 frays contested on the main oval,
31 percent of all winners won in wire-to-wire fashion, almost doubling the total
of the previous week, while two of 14 (14 percent) of the grassy tussles were
taken all the way on the lead. Thursday was most helpful for horses coming from
off the pace on the main oval, as not a single race was taken by a horse on the
lead in the early going, while Wednesday yielded three wire-to-wire winners from
six races.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/8)
1ST – STELLA’S POSADA (Star of Valor) was so much the best in here for
conditioner Doug O’Neill and jockey Corey Nakatani. The two-year-old gelding was
surely the class of the race and was never in doubt, getting 6 1/2 furlongs in a
useful 1:17. The thing that amazed me following this tilt was the fact that no
one claimed the chestnut.
2ND – GREAT OPINIONS (Rahy) may finally live up to the
expectations set for herself after her maiden tally, showing an affinity for the
Cushion Track in here. The Ben Cecil charge passed every horse in the race to
win by two lengths under mild urging, going in 1:45 for 1 1/16 miles.
Thursday (11/9)
1ST – Mike Harrington’s MARK SET GO (Marquetry) lived up to his even-money
status with a convincing tally in here under Pat Valenzuela. Following a
three-month absence and making her Cushion Track bow, the sophomore filly earned a
sharp 88 BRIS Speed number.
Friday (11/10)
4TH – DOCTOR SMARTZ (Beau Genius) closed with a rush to win going away in a
impressive debut. Trainer Valdimir Cerin is not known for winning at first
asking, but he may have a very nice one here. The colt was rewarded with a solid
87 BRIS Speed figure.
Saturday (11/11)
6TH – LIMITED CREOLE (Cactus Creole) led every step of the way until the wire
in posting a tough luck runner-up finish in here. The gelded Peter Miller pupil
should be plenty tough in his next venture. The Cal-bred has put in three
excellent races in succession.
Sunday (11/12)
8TH – GRANDE MELODY (Ire) (Grand Lodge) had little chance once the timer read
1:15 for the opening six furlongs, but the talented three-year-old filly closed
stoutly to corral a clear third in here for trainer Patrick Biancone. The
late-running lass should improve off this effort and be especially tough in her
next outing, especially if she has some pace to run at.
9TH– SOMETHING SONIC (Swiss Yodeler) was no secret in here, going off at 7-5
for his debut for O’Neill, and the two-year-old couldn’t have looked much
better. Breaking like a shot, the gelding was soon if front and won as he
wished, stopping the timer in 1:16 4/5 for 6 1/2 panels. This horse has a future.
A LOOK AHEAD
The freshmen will take center stage this weekend, as both stakes races over
the weekend will feature two-year-olds. The $100,000 Hollywood Prevue S. (G3)
for the boys, and the $100,000 Moccasin S. for the ladies. A total of 14 graded
stakes races are on tap for the Hollywood meet, headlined by the Turf Festival
from November 24-26.