Tuscan Evening, Forever Together head strong Gamely
field
TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) established herself as the queen of
the Southern Californian female turf division this winter/spring, recording
victories in the Santa Barbara H. (G2), Santa Ana H. (G2), Buena Vista H. (G2)
and Monrovia H. (G3), but the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained mare will put her
four-race win streak on the line against champion FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to
Me) in Saturday’s $250,000
Gamely S.
(G1). The two mares highlight an excellent cast of eight in the 1 1/8-mile
turf test at Hollywood Park.
Winner of the Royal Heroine Mile (G2) last summer, Tuscan Evening owns a
three-for-four mark over Hollywood’s turf, the only setback being a sharp second
to the now-retired Ventura in the Matriarch S. (G1) in her 2009 finale. The
five-year-old hasn’t been seriously threatened this season, stretching out in
distance in splendid fashion with wire-to-wire victories in the 10-furlong Santa
Barbara and nine-furlong Santa Ana, and she appears to have a tactical advantage
over her Gamely opponents as the probable lone speed. Regular rider Rafael
Bejarano returns aboard the likely favorite.
Forever Together was named champion turf mare following her victory in the
2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita and didn’t miss a beat
when capturing the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) and Diana S. (G1) early in her 2009 season.
However, the Jonathan Sheppard-conditioned gray will be looking to end a
four-race skid on Saturday. She has placed all four times, including a
half-length second in her 2010 debut last out, and Sheppard hopes a change in
scenery can jump-start her six-year-old season. Rajiv Maragh will replace an
injured Julien Leparoux in the saddle.
WELL MONIED (Maria’s Mon) rolled to a good-looking 1 1/4-length win in the 1
1/8-mile Honeymoon H. (G2) at Hollywood last summer and merits serious respect in
her return to the Inglewood, California, turf. Multiple Grade 1-placed as a sophomore
last season, the Howard Zucker filly returned from a lengthy layoff with a
commendable score over allowance rivals last time at Santa Anita and will pick
up the services of Mike Smith. MEDAGLIA
D’AMOUR (Medaglia d’Oro) has won three straight, including a 1 1/4-length
triumph in the Wilshire H. (G3) last time, and the lightly-raced filly could be
any kind for Ben Cecil. She’ll be tested for class here with Joel Rosario.
Palomar H. (G2) winner GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy) is a versatile sort,
winning the about 6 1/2-furlong Sen. Ken Maddy H. (G3) before a second in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last fall, and recorded a fine second in the 1
1/8-mile John C. Mabee S. (G1) last August. San Gorgonio H. (G2) winner CAT BY
TALE (Tale of the Cat), a two-time runner-up to Tuscan Evening this year, and
2009 Canadian S. (Can-G2) victress PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]), must be
regarded as fringe prospects in the deep field. Santa Barbara runner-up
GENERAL CONSENSUS (Giant’s Causeway) rounds out the field.