HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 4, 2013
by John Mucciolo
The Hollywood Turf Festival produced some fine performances this Holiday
Weekend at Hollywood Park.
Hollywood Derby (G1): Juddmonte Farms’ homebred SEEK AGAIN
(Speightstown) saved ground to the top of the lane, shot through an opening
along the rail and left little doubt after posting a 1 1/2-length win for
conditioner John Gosden. The well-bred Euro import made good in his U.S. debut
and completed 10 panels on the firm turf oval in 2:00 3/5 with Corey Nakatani
along for the ride.
Matriarch S. (G1): Little Red Feather Racing’s EGG DROP (Alphabet
Soup) grabbed the early lead, was headed inside the final furlong, but battled
back tenaciously and won the bob by a nose on the wire. The Mike Mitchell charge
went eight grassy furlongs in 1:34 with Martin Garcia in the silks.
Citation H. (G2): Wertheimer and Frere’s homebred SILENTIO (Silent
Name) slipped between runners near midstretch to take the lead and then held off
a stern test late to prevail by a nose under Rafael Bejarano. Trained by Gary
Mandella, the four-year-old colt finished off 1 1/16 miles on the “good” turf in
1:40 3/5.
Generous S. (G3): Glen Hill Farm’s GLOBAL VIEW (Galileo) moved into
prime contention approaching the turn for home and exuded class from there,
driving home a powerful 1 1/4-length victor. The Tom Proctor-trained juvenile
endured one mile on the “good” turf in 1:36 1/5 beneath the guidance of Joe
Talamo.
Miesque S. (G3): Deron Pearson’s FULL RANSOM (Full Mandate) was last
early but unleashed a strong late kick in the lane and came out a head on top
late for trainer James Cassidy. The Florida-bred lass stopped the teletimer in
1:37 2/5 for one mile on the “good” turf under Victor Espinoza.
Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3): Klein et al’s MAJESTIC STRIDE (Trippi)
pressed the pace to the top of the lane, slowly began to take over and kept all
comers at bay in the lane to post a 2 1/2-length tally for conditioner Jeff
Bonde. The talented four-year-old blazed six furlongs on the Cushion Track in a
rapid 1:08 4/5 under Edwin Maldonado.
Track Stats
From a total of 37 races held at the Inglewood, California racetrack during
the past week, favorites won at a 38 percent clip and the top two betting
choices combined for 65 percent of the wins. From 27 frays contested on the
Cushion Track oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent), while
none of the 10 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead.
Speed was a bit better this week on the main oval, with six horses carrying
that early zip all the way on the Cushion. We thought the oval played fairly for
the duration of the week.
No horses led all the way on the lawn, but a few did sit very close early en
route to victory.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 139 | |
| CUSHION: | 103 | |
| TURF: | 36 | |
| FAVORITES: | 56 (40 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 29 (21 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 7 (19 percent) | |
| CUSHION WIRE: | 16 (16 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (11/28)
1ST — INNER GROOVE (Rock Hard Ten) looked to be the standout in this opener
and delivered like a favorite should, powering to the front in early stretch and
cruising home an 8 1/4-length winner under Rafael Bejarano. The six-year-old
mare is in good current form and looms large right back off the claim by Jerry
Hollendorfer, on her favored oval here.
2ND — John Shirreffs seems to have unveiled a fine prospect in MESANA
(Mizzen Mast), who dusted this field at first asking. The sophomore filly got
six panels on the Cushion in a swift 1:09 2/5 and though this field lacked a lot
of quality, the way this lass did it impressed us.
Friday (11/29)
8TH — SAY OW (Langfuhr) surely needed this race off the long layoff, and was
racing at a trip much less than his best, yet the Julio Canani charge made a
nice run to be a good third here and should be set up for better in his
subsequent outing. The gelded sophomore really came to life on this oval last
campaign and he could be headed in the right direction following this freshener.
Saturday (11/30)
7TH — Hollendorfer’s PRAY HARD (Kafwain) had been knocking on the door with
some fine efforts and busted through in here with a convincing 5 1/4-length
graduating run under Corey Nakatani. The gelded juvenile will likely always be a
sprinter or one-turn runner, but he has the chance to evolve into a stakes
performer in the near future.
TOOSMARTBYHALF (Decarchy) dueled with the winner until the turn for home and
battled gamely to be third, beaten just a head for the place spot in this debut.
We’ll keep an eye on the Doug O’Neill pupil.
Sunday (12/1)
6TH — Seek AGAIN displayed an ability to rate and a fine turn of foot when
asked, hinting that he could be a real nice one with progression. The sophomore
is reportedly staying here with conditioner Bill Mott, and we have a hunch that
we haven’t heard the last of this potential powerhouse.
A Look Ahead
Saturday will play host to the Grade 1, $500,000 Hollywood Starlet and the
Grade 2, $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes.