Owner J. Paul Reddam, whose consumer loans company sponsors the Grade 1,
$750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park December 17, would like to keep the
winner’s share in his own pocket.
Reddam plans to start both Handsome Mike, purchased privately after a
second-place finish in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes Sunday, and Basmati,
runner-up in the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes November 19 for his wife
Zillah, in the 1 1/16-mile test on Cushion Track.
Doug O’Neill trains both colts for Reddam and said that Corey Nakatani, who
won the race last year on Comma to the Top, would probably return on Basmati.
“Basmati is a real talented, high-energy horse who should have a bright
three-year-old campaign ahead of him,” O’Neill said.
Reddam has been close in the Futurity on two previous occasions, finishing
second with Liquidity in 2006 and third with Wilko in 2004.
Bob Baffert is expected to start a quartet of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint
hero Secret Circle, Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue winner So Brilliant, Real Quiet
Stakes victor Liaison and recent maiden winner Sky Kingdom.
Other probable starters include the Jerry Hollendorfer-conditioned duo of
Longview Drive and Rousing Sermon; Empire Way; and Maryland shipper Lucky Chappy
from the Graham Motion barn.
Four probable supplementary entries are expected for the $250,000 Hollywood
Starlet, a Grade 1 test for two-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion
Track December 10.
Sharp Cat Stakes winner Charm the Maker, Sharp Cat runner-up Killer Graces,
Moccasin Stakes winner Made to Love Her and Self Preservation — fourth-place
finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies — are all expected to join the
lineup for the 31st running of the Starlet.
Hollendorfer, who trains Killer Graces, is also expected to start Milania, a
recent maiden winner, according to assistant Dan Ward.
The Starlet is expected to be headed by Weemissfrankie, winner of the Grade 1
Del Mar Debutante and Grade 1 Oak Leaf and third-place finisher in the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies.
“She had a beautiful gallop this morning and will work Saturday,” said Peter
Eurton, trainer of Weemissfrankie, who will be ridden by two-time Starlet winner
Rafael Bejarano.
Joel Rosario will ride Self Preservation, and Garrett Gomez will be aboard
Charm the Maker.