A stellar field of as many as 12 two-year-olds have their
sights set on the Grade 1, $750,000-guaranteed CashCall Futurity, which will be
run for the 33rd time next Saturday at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track.
A supplementary nominee — $15,000 to enter and an
additional $15,000 to start — and a prime contender in the CashCall is Shared Belief, a convincing 7
3/4-length winner of the Hollywood Prevue November 10.
The son of Candy Ride and the Storm Cat mare Common Hope
was making his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the
Prevue after being purchased privately following a handy victory October 19 at
Golden Gate Fields.
Sports broadcaster Jim Rome, who recently sold two-time
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection for $2.7 million, suddenly
found himself with a major contender for Saturday’s race and a 2014 Kentucky Derby prospect.
Alex Solis II was responsible for Rome’s involvement with
Mizdirection and was Johnny on the spot when Shared Belief became available.
“I’ve worked with Jerry (Hollendorfer) for about a year
now,” Solis explained. “He told me (Pam and Marty Wygod) had a horse for sale
and to take a look at him and put together a partnership. I went up north the
next morning at 5 a.m. and liked what I saw. I did my homework on him. He had a
real good (speed) figure and his maiden race was very impressive. All the credit
goes to Jerry.”
“Usually it’s so difficult to put these things together,
but this was so fast, it was ridiculous. Jerry took a third, and out of my two
thirds, I sold pieces to Rome, Jason Litt and KMN Racing.”
“I think Rome is happy,” Solis understated.
Incidentally, Solis’ father, Alex Solis, is tied with
Laffit Pincay, Jr. for most victories among jockeys (4) in the CashCall
Futurity. Corey Nakatani will again ride Shared Belief in the race.
Hollendorfer also will be represented by Tamarando, who closed from last November
23 to win the Real Quiet
Stakes under leading rider Rafael Bejarano. The son of Bertrando displayed his
class this summer with a victory in the Del Mar Futurity September 4. Bejarano has the return engagement.
Tap It Rich, beaten 3 1/4 lengths in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in just his second start, will try to give Hall of Fame
trainer Bob Baffert his seventh victory in the CashCall. The gray son of Tapit
worked a mile in 1:42 December 2 and will have Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith
aboard.
Bond Holder, who finished fourth in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, became a Grade 1 winner when he pulled off a 10-1
surprise in the Front Runner Stakes September 28 at Santa Anita. Regular rider Mario
Gutierrez has the mount for trainer Doug O’Neill.
Other likely starters are the John Sadler-trained duo of Kobe’s Back and Candy Boy; the Ken McPeek-trained
pair of Rankhasprivileges and Sheikinator; Brother
Soldier; Karma King; Poker Player and Electric Eddie.
On the CashCall Futurity undercard, Pandora Stud’s Lucayan, second in the Del Mar
Handicap August 24, heads a field of eight-10 expected starters in the Grade 2,
$250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles.
The French bred from the barn of Hall of Fame Neil Drysdale is seeking his
first United States victory after finishing second or third in a trio of Grade 2 events. The
four-year-old worked six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 Sunday
morning and a determination as to his status for the Turf Cup is forthcoming.
Among his challengers will be Temeraine, winner of the Kentucky Turf Cup
September 14 at Kentucky Downs.
Other possible starters are Artic North, Bright Thought, Segway, Empty Headed, Huntsville,
and Et Tu Walker.
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