by Vance Hanson
Having dominated most of Chicagoland’s leading grass stakes for
three-year-olds this season, Willcox Inn will take his show on the road to
California for Sunday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Hollywood Derby. The 1 1/4-mile test
puts the finishing touches on Hollywood Park’s annual Autumn Turf Festival and
has attracted a competitive and diverse group of 12.
Favored in the Arlington Classic, Grade 2 American Derby and Grade 3
Hawthorne Derby during the course of the summer and fall, Willcox Inn did not
disappoint in any of them while winning all three by a combined margin of 11
lengths. Though only fourth in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes between the
American Derby and Hawthorne Derby, the effort was far from embarrassing as he
faced a field that included Irish classic winner Treasure Beach and the
ill-fated Banned over testing ground. Willcox Inn will have regular pilot Robby
Albarado in the saddle as they attempt to overcome the far outside post.
New or recent arrivals from overseas make up the bulk of the most serious
threats to Willcox Inn. Making his second U.S. appearance is Western Aristocrat,
who pulled a 7-1 upset of the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont last month by
setting pedestrian fractions throughout the nine-furlong contest. Less
successful in his U.S. bow was French invader Venomous, who ran out of ground
when attempting to rally from 14 lengths back in the final quarter of the Grade
2 Oak Tree Derby on October 15. To his credit, the colt was only a half-length
behind the victorious 34-1 longshot Ultimate Eagle at the finish. Invading from
England is the multiple Group 3-placed Slumber, a two-time winner at 1 1/4 miles
this year who was only three lengths back of Treasure Beach and Group 1 start
Nathaniel in the Group 3 Chester Vase in May.
Ultimate Eagle has found new life since switching to the turf during the Del
Mar meet, reeling off three straight including the Oak Tree Derby in
wire-to-wire fashion, but might see more early pressure this time. Irish Art, a
comfortable winner of the restricted Uniformity Stakes down the hill at Santa
Anita, often finds himself in the early mix but will be racing farther than 1
1/16 miles for the first time.
Cozy Kitten and Cloud Man, who rallied to finish third and fifth,
respectively, in the Oak Tree Derby, reappear for the Hollywood version, as does
local stakes scorer Surrey Star. Invading from the East Coast are the Grade
2-placed Casino Host, who’s promised more than delivered this year, and the
Phipps Stable’s maiden winner Imagining. The outsider in the field is Chilean
import El Pocho, whose lone victory south of the border was in a six-furlong
maiden race on dirt.
The Grade 3, $100,000 Generous Stakes, a one-mile grass test for
two-year-olds, has attracted one overseas invader in Blue White Fire, who’s
taken one of four starts for owner-breeder Moyglare Stud and trainer Dermot
Weld. Minor stakes winner Major Magic, Santa Anita maiden winners Handsome Mike
and Battle Force, and allowance winner Stoney Fleece could pose the strongest
challenges, while the stakes-placed Motown Men and Senor Rain will attempt to
strike in their turf debuts.