The $750,000 CashCall Futurity (G1), an annual stop for future Triple Crown
contenders, will once again be the richest event on the stakes calendar for the
2009 autumn meet at Hollywood Park.
The Futurity, in its third year of sponsorship by the consumer loans company
founded by prominent horse owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam, has produced six
winners of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and 14 Triple Crown races since it was
inaugurated as the Hollywood Futurity in 1981.
“We are very happy to have CashCall remain on board as sponsor of the
CashCall Futurity,” said Martin Panza, vice president of racing. “We have had
tremendous response in the first two years with 23 starters and some major
players in the three-year-old division the following year.”
Pioneerof the Nile, winner of the 2008 Futurity, became the 11th graduate to
win the Santa Anita Derby (G1), then finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
The CashCall Futurity will be run for the 29th time on December 19, the
penultimate day of the meet. Fourteen stakes races with purses of $2.85 million
have been scheduled at the meet, which at 27 days is 13 days shorter than a year
ago.
The Turf Festival will once again share the spotlight with the Futurity and
$300,000 Hollywood Starlet (G1). The Turf Festival, which will be staged for the
18th time in 19 years over Thanksgiving weekend, will be reduced to five races
with the suspension of the Hollywood Turf Express (G3).
It will continue to feature three Grade 1 events, although each has undergone
a purse reduction to $300,000. The Hollywood Derby and the Matriarch S. have
each been reduced by $200,000, while the Citation H. has been lowered by
$100,000.
A change in the Turf Festival format has the Matriarch scheduled along with
the $100,000 Generous S. (G3) on November 28, while the Hollywood Derby and
$100,000 Miesque S. (G3) will be run on November 29. Previously, the Derby and
Matriarch were run on closing day of the Turf Festival.
The Turf Festival will begin on November 27 with the 32nd running of the
Citation H.
Hollywood Park, in an effort to maintain its overnight purse schedule, also
suspended the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1), Dahlia H. (G2), Real Quiet S. and Sharp
Cat S. for the autumn meet.
“We will have the same overnight purse structure as Oak Tree (at Santa
Anita),” Panza said. “This is a one-year suspension. Hopefully, with more days
at future meets, we will bring some of these races back.
“Our goal was to protect the overnight schedule as everyone is feeling the
pressure in the difficult times the country is experiencing.”
The Futurity and Starlet anchor closing weekend, with two-year-old fillies
competing in the latter event on closing day, December 20.
The autumn meet stakes schedule, which includes 11 graded races, begins the
second day of the meet with the $75,000 On Trust H. on November 14.