Hollywood Prevue

DECLAN’S MOON (Malibu Moon), a likely contender for an Eclipse Award with a
sweep of the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) and Hollywood Futurity (G1), figures to be
a heavy favorite to win Saturday’s seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue, but we’re
going to go with SEIZE THE DAY (Montbrook) for the upset.

Seize the Day was super impressive breaking his maiden in his debut at Santa
Anita on October 11. The Kristin Mulhall-trained colt set fast fractions, then
drew off under a mild hand ride and a long hold late to win by a widening 11
lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09 4/5. The dark bay drops seven pounds off
that effort and gets nine pounds from Declan’s Moon. As they say, he could be
any kind.

Declan’s Moon skipped the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in favor of a late
season campaign. The Ron Ellis trainee broke his maiden at first asking at Del
Mar, then collared Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus) from the inside and gamely
turned back that foe to win the Del Mar Futurity (G2) by a neck in early
September. Our concern, however, is that Roman Ruler could be a little bit of a
hanger and, perhaps, just another over-hyped juvenile.

MEGABYTE (Chief Seattle) took four starts to break his maiden, but did it the
right way in his last start. The Vladimir Cerin-trained colt stalked the early
pace before taking the lead in midstretch and holding sway by daylight while in
hand late. He drops seven pounds off that effort and is tactically drawn near
the outside for a similar trip.

The improving BEAT THE CHALK (Valid Wager) broke his maiden in the Barretts
Juvenile S. at Fairplex, then defeated allowance foes at Bay Meadows, running
three-quarters in 1:09 4/5. He has the look of a useful sleeper. The maiden
TWICE UNBRIDLED (Unbridled’s Song) closed well in his first two starts, then
bizarrely went right to the lead with first-time blinkers before fading to
seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He loses the hood and has some upset
potential at large odds.

European shipper SOUTHERN AFRICA (Cape Town) has won two-of-three and has
been training forwardly for his U.S. debut. He breaks from the rail with surface
and class questions. BUSHWACKER (Outflanker) broke his maiden in front-running
fashion in his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass last out. He adds
blinkers and figures to be an early pace player. POWER WAVE (All Thee Power) is
undefeated in four starts at Turf Paradise, but will get tested for class in
this spot.