HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 23, 2008
by John Mucciolo
A pair of marquee graded races capped the fall meet at Hollywood Park.
CashCall Futurity (G1): Zayat’s homebred PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire
Maker) made the lead in early stretch and powered home a nose winner in here for
Bob Baffert, giving him his fourth win in this contest. The talented
two-year-old clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 4/5 under Garrett Gomez.
Dahlia H. (G2): Jon Kelly et al’s VACARE (Lear Fan) exuded her class
in the lane in securing a one-length tally in here as the 4-5 choice. The
Christophe Clement charge saved ground all the way beneath Jose Valdivia Jr.
prior to storming home inside the final furlong, getting 1 1/16 miles on the
firm lawn in 1:43.
Track Stats
From a total of 43 races held over the Inglewood, California, racetrack
during the week, favorites won at a 35 percent clip and the top two betting
choices combined for 58 percent of the wins. From 38 frays contested on the
Cushion oval, 14 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (37 percent), while three
of the five grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (60 percent).
Small fields and speed were the themes of closing week. Only two animals won
from post position 7 or wider, but the fact that many fields consisted of five
or six runners is a big reason for the inside domination.
The main oval was very helpful to early speed, with a slew of wire-to-wire
winners last week. From my observation, horses traveling wide were at a big
disadvantage for the majority of the meet — even most of the closers that won
saved ground early in the race. An angle I will employ is to play horses who
endured wide trips at Hollywood back at Santa Anita, where the track plays quite
differently and isn’t as harsh on outside travelers.
There wasn’t much turf racing this week — maybe they were saving the turf
course for next year — but speed was a huge asset over the lawn for much of the
meet, as expected.
Meet Totals
RACES: 344
CUSHION: 259
TURF: 85
FAVORITES: 112 (32 percent)
2ND CHOICES: 70 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE: 23 (27 percent)
CUSHION WIRE: 77 (30 percent)
Post Positions (wins)
RAIL: 58
1-3: 157
4-6: 135
7-out: 52
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (12/17)
5TH — SCANDALOUS (Memo [Chi]) beat only three in here but did it the right
way, putting his rivals away with ease in the stretch for Jack Carava. The
four-year-old chestnut has won two straight at Hollywood, and is a neck shy of
four straight wins over this oval. We’re not sure if we trust this one
elsewhere, though.
Thursday (12/18)
5TH — HAKA (Dynaformer) beat little on this day and faced no resistance
throughout, but the Clement pupil couldn’t have been much more impressive in her
synthetic debut. The Claiborne homebred could be any type.
7TH — VICTORY PETE (Five Star Day) was sitting on a big race and delivered
with ease in here, leading at every call for Alexis Barba. The talented colt has
returned from a freshening like a horse that is moving up considerably.
Friday (12/19)
4TH — SUANCES EXPRESS (Suances [GB]) was unlucky in defeat as she dueled
early and fought to the wire while second. The dark bay is vastly improved since
her debut and shouldn’t be a maiden for long.
PAST CURFEW (Decarchy) had an eventful first run while bogged down on the
rail, and the Mike Puype-trained juvenile miss could be live at a price in her
subsequent effort.
5TH — WAVELINE (Stravinsky) beat a compact but useful field in here to post
her second in succession since the layoff for Ben Cecil. The bay miss will
almost surely be stakes-bound next out, and she’s quite usable at a square
price.
Saturday (12/20)
2ND — ROGUE SCHOLAR (Barkerville) should have been claimed out of here as
the gelding is too good for horses at this level. The Peter Miller charge
drilled six panels in 1:08 3/5 while never being threatened, and he is a single
whenever he sees this type.
4TH — RAIL TRIP (Jump Start) accelerated like a real good thing when asked
for his best by Valdivia, and the sophomore appears to be capable of anything
for Ron Ellis.
6TH — TURK (Vindication) ran a funny race in here and looked out of it
turning for home, but the Baffert pupil re-rallied late to just miss in a fine
debut. This one took a lot of money in here, and it’s obvious that the juvenile
has some ability.
Sunday (12/21)
1ST — HARALDO (Chi) (Hussonet) rallied like a freight train in the stretch
to finish a close second for Puype, the second huge late run offered by the
gelding. The six-year-old got an 11-second final eighth.
3RD — The Doug O’Neill-trained PINKARELLA (Malibu Moon) couldn’t have looked
any better at first asking, leading at every call and surging home a 5
1/4-length vixen. The juvenile miss served notice that she can run, and there is
really no telling what she might be capable of.