HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK
MAY 30, 2013
by John Mucciolo
There was a trio of graded tilts over the holiday weekend at Hollywood Park.
Gamely S. (G1): Glen Hill Farm’s MARKETING MIX (Medaglia d’Oro) took a
short lead in midstretch and held off a game late challenge to bag her 2013
debut for trainer Tom Proctor. The classy five-year-old finished off 1 1/8 miles
on the firm turf here in 1:47 1/5 under the guidance of Gary Stevens.
American H. (G2): Fanticola and Sardino’s OBVIOUSLY (Ire) (Choisir)
led soon after the start and was never challenged throughout in a most
impressive, 2 1/2-length rout in this contest under Joe Talamo. The
five-year-old gelding finished off a mile on the firm lawn in a snappy 1:32 4/5
for trainer Mike Mitchell.
Los Angeles H. (G3): Barber et al’s COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie)
took command of this race soon after the break and never was challenged
thereafter in posting an easy 1 1/4-length score in here for trainer Peter
Miller. The five-year-old gelding, who was guided by Edwin Maldonado, sped six
panels on the Cushion oval in 1:09.
Track Stats
From a total of 44 races held over the Inglewood, California, racetrack
during the past week, favorites won at a 32 percent clip and the top two betting
choices combined for 57 percent of the wins. From 31 frays contested on the
Cushion Track oval, eight animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (26 percent),
while four horses went all the way on the lead from 13 turf events (31 percent).
Speed on the main oval was best on Saturday, when the first three dirt races
resulted in wire-to-wire winners. Overall, we didn’t see a speed bias all week
over an oval that seemed to play fairly.
Outside posts did tons better this week, too, with nine horses breaking from
wider than post six coming through on the main oval, reversing a trend from the
previous three weeks of racing.
From four turf wire jobs, three came in route events and one in a sprint. Of
the four, two came from odds-on favorites who cruised home. We love the way the
turf oval is giving all runners a chance at this meeting.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 185 | |
| CUSHION: | 127 | |
| TURF: | 58 | |
| FAVORITES: | 59 (32 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 44 (24 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 11 (19 percent) | |
| CUSHION WIRE: | 42 (33 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (5/23)
2ND — The Peter Miller-conditioned ON THE BACKSTREETS (Street Boss) looked
the part at first asking in this potentially sharp field with a 2 1/4-length
score under Joe Talamo. The debuting juvenile was always well placed and turned
it on in the lane, suggesting he could be of stakes quality and should handle
added ground.
5TH — MARINDA (Scat Daddy) returns to this list following a fine win going
long in here after showing such good form sprinting. Trainer Richard Mandella
really has this filly going well right now.
6TH — The Donald Warren-trained VOLKONSKY (Vronsky) couldn’t catch the
winner but finished more than five lengths clear of third in a superb debut try
at the tricky distance of seven furlongs. The gelding should be ultra-tough in
his return.
Friday (5/24)
5TH — NIAGRA FALLS (Giant’s Causeway) has now put in a trio of fine races in
succession and is proven to be best at these marathon distances for conditioner
Patrick Biancone. The four-year-old colt will be stakes bound in the very near
future once again.
7TH — EGG DROP (Alphabet Soup) pressed the pacesetter to the top of the
lane, took command turning for home and finished fast en route to a fine
allowance score over a nice field. The Mike Mitchell-trained Florida-bred has a
lot of ability and seems best at races of one turn.
Saturday (5/25)
3RD — Group 1 hero LUCAYAN (Turtle Bowl) was last early but put in a nice
late run to be a sharp second in his U.S. debut in this field. The Neil Drysdale
pupil could want a bit more ground to work with going forward, but this was a
fine way to kick start his four-year-old campaign.
7TH — SWEET BOSS (Street Boss) was surely ready for this debut run for
trainer John Shirreffs and could turn into a nice one with more seasoning. The
debuting sophomore miss showed useful tactical speed and wore down the clear
leading favorite in the lane to post a stylish first-out win under Julien
Leparoux. She could be any type.
Sunday (5/26)
7TH — SCHIAPARELLI (Ghostzapper) left little doubt in this turf dash in
leading throughout in a most facile score in this heat. The vastly improved mare
has turned into a monster since adding blinkers three back and looks like the
second-best turf sprinter on the grounds for Mike Puype.
Monday (5/27)
3RD — POINTSOFFTHEBENCH (Benchmark) made pretty short work of a very good
sprint field in this one and should surely be stakes bound very soon for
conditioner Tim Yakteen.
8TH — The John Sadler-trained DOYOUSEEMECOMING (Put it Back) made a fine
comeback in his first race since September in holding on late in here beneath
Victor Espinoza. The four-year-old gelding was always well placed, and after
having this one under his belt, he might even close faster next time.
SUPER ABILITY (Langfuhr) was topped in here as the favorite, but the Carla
Gaines charge battled back gamely after being passed in a courageous effort.
We’d tab this one for future use as his form has never been anything near this
fine.
A Look Ahead
Saturday will play host to the Grade 2, $150,000 Californian Stakes while the
Sunday card will be led by the Grade 3, $100,000 Affirmed Handicap.