HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 9
by Bernard T. Moore
Although the Autumn Turf Festival concluded on Thanksgiving weekend, grass
racing still took center stage at Hollywood Park as the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1),
featuring Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) hero Better Talk Now (Talkin Man), was run
this past Saturday. Better Talk Now was a prohibitive favorite to annex
successive Grade 1 wins, something he has been unable to accomplish in the past.
That fact still rang true after the race had been run, as PELLEGRINO (Brz)
(Nugget Point [Ire]) recorded an upset win at double-digit odds, posting a
hard-earned head decision over the mare Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal) after an
exciting stretch battle.
Pellegrino benefited from a flawless ride and inside trip under jockey Gary
Stevens, as the Brazilian-bred runner seems to do his best when racing along the
rail. Despite being shuffled back approaching the far turn, the winner was able
to re-rally in the stretch, and out-kick the runner-up, who closed from last
place in a sharp effort.
License to Run (Brz) (Exile King), yet another Brazilian bred, had been away
from competition since May and flashed good speed before inexplicably losing
ground nearing the final turn. He found his best stride when swung to the
outside and finished strongly despite lugging in and hampering his rider in the
stretch, beaten by just a quarter of a length in third. The filly Moscow Burning
(Moscow Ballet) responded well to rating tactics to finish another half-length
behind in fourth. Better Talk Now, the even-money favorite, was extremely rank
during the early stages of the race. He loomed a threatening presence once the
field straightened for home, but had nothing left when called upon in the
stretch.
This was Pellegrino’s first Grade 1 and stakes victory. Gary Tanaka, whose
success with purchasing South American-bred runners has been well documented,
owns the Donald Burke-trained five-year-old.
Sunday’s $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) featured Breeders’ Cup Sprint
(G1) participants as Kela (Numerous) (Sprint runner-up), My Cousin Matt (Matty
G) (third) and Our New Recruit (Alphabet Soup) (12th) in its lineup. However,
when it was all said and done, it would be the rank outsider in the field, TASTE
OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo), who would splash his way to victory over the
moisture laden track.
Ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., the five-year-old sat a perfect trip off a
suicidal speed duel on the front end. On the far turn, Taste of Paradise was
maneuvered to the outside for the stretch run as Watchem Smokey (Alphabet Soup)
was also finding his best stride toward the rail. The pair rallied in tandem
down the stretch, engulfing a beleaguered My Master (Arg) (Southern Halo), who
was part of a wicked pace scenario.
Watchem Smokey got to the front-runner first, assuming a tenuous lead in deep
stretch. But, he could not withstand Taste of Paradise’s determined late run,
winding up on the wrong end of an extremely tight photo. My Master held gamely
for third, beaten only two lengths in a game effort. Kela was obviously only a
shell of his former self, finishing a non-threatening fourth, and he’s probably
not fully recovered from the 104 fever that he spiked in New York in late
November. Our New Recruit disputed a mercurial pace and dropped back to fifth as
his early exploits began took their toll in the final furlong. My Cousin Matt
leapt in the air at the start from his inside post, immediately costing him four
lengths. He raced at the back of the pack throughout because of that incident
and never made his presence felt.
Taste of Paradise had his blinkers removed for the Underwood by trainer Gary
Mandella, who saddled his first graded stakes winner. The dark bay was
transferred to Mandella’s barn after an abysmal showing in the Pat O’Brien
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) at Del Mar, a race in which he contracted an abscess in
his left hind foot, which dictated an absence from competition.
The main track appeared bias free much of the week, but it definitely was
favoring Early runners in both sprints and routes over the weekend. The only
apparent path bias appeared on Saturday, when the rail was extremely live. The
turf course appeared to be bias free the entire week.
Doug O’Neill continues to lead all trainers with 12 victories, followed by
Bob Baffert, who has registered 10 wins. Mike Harrington, John W. Sadler and
Jeff Mullins complete the top five. All of Baffert’s wins have come over the
main track, and trainer Mike Harrington continues to wield a hot hand in
sprints.
Rene Douglas, with 21 victories to his credit, holds a five-win lead over
Tyler Baze and Victor Espinoza. David Flores holds down the fourth spot, while
Midwest transplant Jon Court completes the top five, having ridden nine winners.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (12/1)
4TH – TOO MEAN (Flying Continental) showed vast improvement adding blinkers
in his second career start. Flashed surprise speed while chasing a superior pace
rival who carved out a fast half-mile and finished with interest to be clear for
the show. Sophomore has the pedigree to handle a route of ground and is eligible
for Cal-bred races.
Thursday (12/2)
4TH – BLAIRS ROARIN STAR (Roar) held grimly after setting a quick, pressured
pace while racing three-wide down the backstretch off a freshening. Won the pace
battle but lost the war to a fresh closer.
5TH – LUNAR DREAMS (Bonus Money) displayed dramatic form reversal switching
to grass and stretching out in her first start for trainer Joe Parga against
allowance company. Stalked a slow pace on the front end and yielded grudgingly
late to an odds-on winning favorite. Three-year-old miss fits well at this level
on turf.
Friday (12/3)
6TH – DONNYBROOK PRIDE (Doneraile Court) was allowed to settle too far off
the early pace. Juvenile was caught extremely wide on the far turn while in the
midst of a strong rally and continued widest of all in the stretch. He was not
punished late to improve his position and would benefit from a more astute ride,
as his closing kick needs to be timed just right. Would also benefit from a drop
into a maiden claimer.
7TH – MOONLIGHT CRUISE (Silver Deputy) finished a sharp third in her
Hollywood Park main track debut. Began to find her best stride in the stretch
off a layoff, but she wasn’t able to launch an all-out rally late when caught in
cramped quarters in the final sixteenth of a mile, costing her the place. May be
seen next on turf, the surface of only two victories thus far, and she galloped
out nicely past the wire.
9TH – BRITE LORELEI (High Brite) was away slowly from the gate in a well
bet/well meant debut. Recovered nicely, but had the misfortune of chasing a
superior speed rival dropping down from maiden special weight contests,
finishing seven-lengths clear of the show horse. Two-year-old lass is bred for a
sprint and to win early in her career, and all three of her siblings to race
have won, two of them as juveniles.
Saturday (12/4)
5TH – NIGHT BOKBEL (Ire) (Night Shift) trailed the field down the backstretch
after a slow break cost him 1 1/2 lengths. Compromised by pedestrian fractions
on the front end, the five-year-old was forced to close while racing in tight
quarters and finished extremely well late for second in first start for Frankel
over firm footing. May want more ground.
6TH – WHAT’S THAT SOUND (Thunder Gulch) showed dramatic form reversal
switching to the main track and dropping in class. Closed like a runaway train
in the stretch while widest of all vs. a winner who enjoyed a perfect trip. Bred
top and bottom for a distance of ground.
Sunday (12/5)
6TH – Our New Recruit was hard-used disputing fast fractions on the lead. Was
not disgraced all things considered and could be slowly rounding back into best
form.