Thursday, July 05 2012

BLUESKIESNRAINBOWS ALL THE WAY IN SWAPS STAKES

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 4, 2012)—Blueskiesnrainbows, who earned his maiden victory against $30,000 claimers last Dec. 11, became a graded stakes winner Thursday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Giving jockey Joe Talamo his second consecutive win in the Grade II, $150,000 Swaps Stakes, the English Channel colt led throughout, prevailing by three-quarters of a length over Nonios and five other fellow 3-year-olds.

GAME ON DUDE VERSUS SIX IN GRADE I, $500,000 HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 4, 2012)—Game On Dude will seek the third Grade I victory of his career in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Scheduled for 1 ¼ miles over Cushion Track, the Gold Cup is a “Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In’’ race. The Breeders’ Cup nominated winner is guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 3 at Santa Anita. Additionally, pre-entry and entry fees will be waived and the owner given a $10,000 travel allowance.

Saturday, June 30 2012

JOHN HARRIS NINTH WINNER OF LAFFIT PINCAY, JR. AWARD

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 29, 2012)—John Harris will be presented the ninth annual Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award during the Hollywood Gold Cup program Saturday, July 7 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Pincay, a member of racing’s Hall of Fame since 1975, will make the presentation between the fifth and sixth races.

GAME ON DUDE, RICHARD’S KID HEAD GOLD CUP NOMS

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 29, 2012)—Game On Dude, an easy winner of the Grade II Californian June 2, tops 13 nominees to the Grade I, $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup.

The signature race of the Spring/Summer meet, the Gold Cup, which is run at 1 ¼ miles over Cushion Track, will be renewed for the 73rd time Saturday, July 7 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Thursday, June 28 2012

JOHN SCOTT REPELS RAIL TRIP IN THURSDAY FEATURE; RAFAEL BEJARANO HAS THIRD FIVE BAGGER AT BHP

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 28, 2012)—Making his first start beyond seven furlongs since October 4, 2009, John Scott was a winner, defeating favored Rail Trip in the $65,930 feature Thursday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Successful for the second time in three starts since returning from a lengthy layoff, the 5-year-old gelding prevailed by a half-length under jockey Victor Espinoza.

GALLANT SON SEEKS REPEAT IN KERLAN MEMORIAL HANDICAP

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 28, 2012)—Defending champion Gallant Son will try for his third win over the Betfair Hollywood Park turf course in the $68,000 Robert Kerlan Memorial Handicap Sunday.

Scheduled for six furlongs, the Kerlan is the seventh of nine races. Post time is 1 p.m. Track gates at Betfair Hollywood Park open at 9:55 a.m. for simulcasts.

Hollywood Park: STABLE NOTES THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012

MITCHELL DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN TUMOR; SURGERY FRIDAY

Mike Mitchell, 64, was diagnosed Monday with a brain tumor, according to his wife Denise. With 884 victories at Betfair Hollywood Park, the trainer is second on the all-time list, 68 behind Bobby Frankel. Just last Saturday, Mitchell saddled Potesta for a game victory in the Grade II Hollywood Oaks.

“He’s at USC Medical Center right now and is scheduled for surgery tomorrow at 9 a.m.” said Denise. “Hopefully, they can remove the tumor and then run tests. We won’t know anything until after the surgery.”

GRADE I WINNER LITTLE MIKE MAKES CALIFORNIA DEBUT IN SHOEMAKER MILE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 27, 2012)—Little Mike will try to make it consecutive Grade I victories on turf when he makes his California debut in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

The Shoemaker Mile is the more lucrative of two Grade I events being offered Saturday. Defending champion Smiling Tiger and The Factor head the field in the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap, which is run at seven furlongs over Cushion Track. The Triple Bend is the sixth of 10 while the Shoemaker is the ninth.

Wednesday, June 20 2012

WILLA B AWESOME SEEKS HISTORIC DOUBLE IN HOLLYWOOD OAKS

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 20, 2012)—Willa B Awesome will try for her third graded stakes victory of 2012 in the $150,000-guaranteed Hollywood Oaks Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

A Grade II for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track, the Oaks is the eighth of nine races. Post time is 1 p.m. Track gates will open at 9:55 a.m. for simulcasts.

Monday, June 18 2012

TURBULENT DESCENT STAYS PERFECT OVER CUSHION TRACK

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 17, 2012)—Making her first start of 2012, Turbulent Descent remained undefeated at Betfair Hollywood Park with a victory in the $72,570 Desert Stormer Handicap Sunday.

Idle since a poor performance in the Grade I La Brea Stakes last New Year’s Eve at Santa Anita, the 4-year-old daughter of Congrats took charge late for her fourth win over Cushion Track.

CHIPS ALL IN MAKES LOCAL DEBUT IN TSUNAMI SLEW

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 17, 2012)—Chips All In, a two time stakes winner on turf, will make his Betfair Hollywood Park debut in the $70,000 Tsunami Slew Stakes Friday night.

Named in honor of the multiple stakes winner owned by Royal Lines and trained by the late Eddie Gregson, the Tsunami Slew is for 3-year-olds and will be run at one mile on grass. It is the seventh of eight races.

Post time Friday is 7:05 p.m. Admission is $10 - $20 after 8:30 p.m.

BHP: SATURDAY STAKES PARTICIPANTS EMERGE IN GOOD SHAPE

SATURDAY STAKES PARTICIPANTS EMERGE IN GOOD SHAPE

Love Theway Youare and Include Me out, the first two finishers in Saturday’s Grade I Vanity Handicap, each came out of the race in fine shape, according to their trainers.

Myung Kwon Cho, who couldn’t be on hand for Love Theway Youare’s $38 upset because he was attending the high school graduation of his son, Raxon, received news of the victory via email from his assistant, Maria Ayala. “She’s good this morning,” said Cho, “but I’d like to wait another day to see how she’s doing before making any decisions on where she’ll run next.”\\