Rivalries renewed in Gamely, Los Angeles

Rivalries renewed in Gamely,
Los Angeles

Malibu Pier hopes to fend off Cozi Rosie (left) as she did in the Santa Barbara (Benoit Photos) Although the Memorial Day graded stakes action at Hollywood Park caters to different demographics — the $250,000 Gamely S. (G1) for turf distaffers and the $100,000 Los Angeles H. (G3) for speed merchants on the Cushion Track — both races share a common element. Most of the key contenders will be renewing rivalries on the federal holiday. Half of the Gamely field is exiting the April 16 Santa Barbara H. (G2), led by the streaking MALIBU PIER (Malibu Moon). Since her late-running third to COZI ROSIE (Pleasantly Perfect) in the February 21 Buena Vista H. (G2) at a mile, the Carla Gaines filly has made better use of her tactical speed to win two in a row. Malibu Pier was on the pace for much of the way in the March 19 Santa Ana H. (G2), where she held off the troubled TURNING TOP (Ire) (Pivotal) by a length. Always within striking distance next time out in the Santa Barbara, Malibu Pier got the jump on Cozi Rosie and thwarted her belated charge by a half-length. The respective third- and fourth-place finishers, RESTLESS SOUL (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) and Turning Top, are likewise joining the fray in the Gamely.

Brice Blanc, who picked up the mount aboard Malibu Pier last time, will be
back in the saddle Monday. Cutting back in trip to 1 1/8 grassy miles, the same
distance as the Santa Ana and a furlong shorter than the Santa Barbara,
shouldn’t faze the tractable runner.

The talented Cozi Rosie, who returned from a layoff to capture the Buena
Vista going away, hopes to have more pace on tap here. The John Sadler pupil
could get the right set-up courtesy of former Brazilian Horse of the Year CELTIC
PRINCESS (Brz) (Public Purse). Unraced since a front-running allowance score on
December 30 at Santa Anita, the seven-year-old mare has fired a couple of
bullets recently for A.C. Avila.

Turning Top has been a fairly consistent presence for Simon Callaghan, but
she might be put in the shade by her up-and-coming stablemate DUBAWI HEIGHTS
(GB) (Dubawi). The stalker extended her winning skein to three in the April 30
Wilshire H. (G3), and gets a stiffer class test at this level.

The Ron McAnally-trained ECLAIR DE LUNE (Ger) (Marchand de Sable) was fifth
to Malibu Pier and Turning Top two starts back in the Santa Ana. That effort
sums up her frustrations at Santa Anita, for she has yet to hit the board in
four tries over the course. Rather than lining up in the Santa Barbara again,
she shipped to Keeneland for the April 16 Jenny Wiley S. (G2) and performed with
great credit. Dead last of 10 after hitting the gate at the start, she closed
for fifth at a 1 1/16-mile trip short of her best.

Perhaps fittingly for a Richard L. Duchossois colorbearer, her best efforts
came at Arlington Park last summer. At her owner’s track, Eclair de Lune was a
fine second to the ill-fated Tuscan Evening (Ire), last year’s Gamely winner, in
the Modesty H. (G3), before posting a mild upset in the Beverly D. S. (G1). She
is likely to use the Gamely as a springboard to Chicago.

Chilean Group 1 winner MADERA CASTANA (Chi) (Indy Dancer) is another who ran
admirably in defeat, albeit versus lesser. Making her U.S. debut in a one-mile
allowance/optional claimer at Hollywood, she dropped 19 lengths back, yet
rallied furiously to miss by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Ruben Cardenas
made a rider switch to Patrick Valenzuela, ensuring a more forwardly-placed trip
in the Gamely.

M One Rifle (left) and Cost of Freedom weren’t separated by much last time (Benoit Photos) In the six-furlong Los Angeles, defending champion COST OF FREEDOM (Cee’s Tizzy) aims to rebound off two tough beats. The Grade 1 veteran was just outdueled by AMAZOMBIE (Northern Afleet) when third, beaten a neck, in the January 29 Sunshine Millions Sprint. The form has been flattered since, with Amazombie going on to take the April 3 Potrero Grande S. (G2) and the April 23 Tiznow S., and Sunshine Millions runner-up Apriority filling that same spot in the Carter H. (G1) and Churchill Downs S. (G2). Cost of Freedom didn’t return until the May 7 Cool Frenchy S. at Hollywood. After setting his usual torrid fractions, the Sadler charge was worn down late by another Grade 1 winner, M ONE RIFLE (One Man Army), in a track-record :55 4/5 for five furlongs. M One Rifle was moving forward off a fourth to Amazombie in his comeback in the Potrero Grande, the form lines again intersecting.

SUPREME SUMMIT (Cactus Ridge) had left Cost of Freedom and GATO GO WIN (City
Place) behind when runner-up in last fall’s Ancient Title (G1), and he followed
up with a closing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Third to Regally
Ready (More Than Ready) and CAMP VICTORY (Forest Camp) in his turf bow in the
April 16 San Simeon H. (G3), Supreme Summit has been scorching up the worktab of
late for Mike Puype. The confirmed closer would enjoy the prospect of a mad pace
war in the Los Angeles.

An intriguing new shooter to the sprint division is INDIAN FIREWATER (Indian
Charlie), who barely lasted by a nose while wiring the January 15 San Fernando
S. (G2). Freshened following tiring fourths in the February 5 Strub S. (G2) and
the March 6 Santana Mile, he shortens up for Bob Baffert. In his last appearance
on the Cushion Track, he rolled in the 7 1/2-furlong Nashville S. during the
autumn meet.