Wednesday, December 24 2008

Stable Notes, Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

Rain or shine, good times or bad, there is only one Santa Anita Park. Embarking on its 72nd season of racing Friday, the historic track has been home to legions of stars, equine and athletic, surviving World War II and natural disasters since opening on Christmas Day, 1934.

In short, the winter/spring meet is one racing fans anticipate. It’s a new beginning, with quality horses, important races and seemingly limitless opportunities to enjoy them in one of the most scenic settings in all of sports, the San Gabriel Mountains serving as a picturesque backdrop.

Tuesday, December 23 2008

STABLE NOTES, MONDAY DECEMBER 22ND, 2008

HORSES AT THE READY AS SANTA ANITA BEGINS 72ND CAMPAIGN FRIDAY

Santa Anita Park, which opened on Christmas Day, 1934 and instantly established itself as one a great Thoroughbred venue, plans to continue that rich heritage when it ushers in its 72nd season of world-class racing this Friday, the day after Christmas, its traditional opening day.

Highlighting the initial program is the 57th running of the Grade I Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, an event that has been won in the past by equine luminaries such as Determine, Round Table, Native Diver, Buckpasser, Damascus, Ancient Title, Spectacular Bid, Precisionist and Ferdinand.

Monday, December 22 2008

HOLLYWOOD PARK UNABLE TO OVERCOME NATIONAL TREND

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2008) — Hollywood Park, fighting the declining economy and an Advance Deposit Wagering dispute which curtailed wagering by players residing outside of California for 17 racing days, finished its 40-day Autumn Meet on Sunday with declines across the board in attendance and handle.

Overall, handle averaged $8.9 million, down 18.3 percent from the figure of $10.9 million during a 32-day meeting in 2007. The on-track average of $1.05 million was down 21.6 percent from the average of $1.3 million in 2007. On track-attendance fell 12 percent to 4,353, compared to 4,944 in 2007.

BEJARANO, O’NEILL WIN MEET TITLES WITH FLAIR

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2008) — Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who did not ride closing day, completed a sweep of the five major Southern California meetings by riding 52 winners at Hollywood Park’s 40-day Autumn Meet, which concluded Sunday.

Bejarano, a 26-year-old native of Arequipa, Peru., moved his tack west during the 2007 Autumn Meet and became just the third jockey to sweep the Santa Anita Winter/Spring Meeting, the Hollywood Park Spring/Summer Meet, Del Mar, Oak Tree and the Hollywood Park Autumn Meet. Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron was the first to do so in 1983 and Patrick Valenzuela matched the feat in 2003.

MEDIA VOTE COCOA BEACH HORSE OF THE MEET

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2008) — Cocoa Beach, impressive come-from-behind winner of The Matriarch on closing day of the Turf Festival, was a unanimous choice by media as Horse of the Meet as Hollywood Park’s 40-day Autumn Meet closed Sunday.

Cocoa Beach, owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, had not run on turf since winning her career debut in Chile in January of 2007. She rallied in the stretch under Ramon Dominguez to win the Grade I event by three-quarters of a length over defending champion and pacesetter Precious Kitten.

Sunday, December 21 2008

VALDIVIA GIVES VACARE PERFECT TRIP AS CLEMENT GETS 1,000TH WIN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2008) — Odds-on favorite Vacare, given a perfect trip by Jose Valdivia Jr., overhauled Gotta Have Her and In My Glory in the stretch to score a one-length victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park as trainer Christophe Clement notched career win No. 1,000 in the Grade II event.

Vacare, a 5-year-old daughter of Lear Fan making her final career start, covered 1 1/16 miles on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:41.13 under high weight of 122 pounds to score her eighth win in 14 career starts. Gotta Have Her, who pressed pacesetter In My Glory, prevailed by a half-length over the 18-1 shot to earn second money in the closing-day feature.

BEJARANO, O’NEILL WIN MEET TITLES WITH FLAIR

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2008) — Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who did not ride closing day, completed a sweep of the five major Southern California meetings by riding 52 winners at Hollywood Park’s 40-day Autumn Meet, which concluded Sunday.

Bejarano, a 26-year-old native of Arequipa, Peru., moved his tack west during the 2007 Autumn Meet and became just the third jockey to sweep the Santa Anita Winter/Spring Meeting, the Hollywood Park Spring/Summer Meet, Del Mar, Oak Tree and the Hollywood Park Autumn Meet. Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron was the first to do so in 1983 and Patrick Valenzuela matched the feat in 2003.

HP Notes: Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008

PANZA CITES FUTURITY AS HIGH POINT OF AUTUMN MEET

Martin Panza, vice president of racing at Hollywood Park, pointed to the $750,000 CashCall Futurity on Saturday as the highlight of a 40-day Autumn Meet, which concludes today.

“I thought the CashCall Futurity was the best race of the meet,” Panza said Sunday of the Grade I test in which favored Pioneerof the Nile edged I Want Revenge by a nose in 1:41.95 for 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track. Chocolate Candy finished third in a field of 11.

Saturday, December 20 2008

MILLIONAIRE VACARE HOPES TO ADD TO IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIALS

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2008) — Vacare, a winner of seven of 13 starts and $1.1 million, will try to rebound from a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf under high weight of 122 pounds in the $150,000 Dahlia Handicap, closing day feature Sunday at Hollywood Park.

The 5-year-old daughter of Lear Fan won the Palomar Handicap at Del Mar three starts back while traveling the Dahlia distance of 1 1/16 miles on turf and was second two starts back in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes.

Hollwood Park Stable Notes:  Friday, Dec. 19, 2008

"O’NEILL SAVORS TRAINING CROWN

Trainer Doug O’Neill is following an unusual pattern in clinching his fourth title with record numbers at the Hollywood Park Autumn Meet, which concludes Sunday.

O’Neill has won the title during even years — previously in 2002, 2004 and 2006 —while adding three titles during the longer Spring/Summer Meet during odd years — 2003, 2005 and 2007, the latter a tie.

BAFFERT GETS RECORD-TYING FOURTH CASHCALL FUTURITY VICTORY

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2008) — Pioneerof the Nile had trainer Bob Baffert thinking Kentucky Derby after he scored a thrilling victory over I Want Revenge in Saturday’s $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park.

Baffert, who has saddled three Derby winners, equaled the record of four Futurity victories set by D. Wayne Lukas as Pioneerof the Nile fought off gritty 6-1 shot I Want Revenge in deep stretch to win the 28th running of the Grade I event by a nose under jockey Garrett Gomez.

Friday, December 19 2008

VICTORY PETE CRUISES UNDER SMITH IN HOLLYPARK FEATURE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2008) — Victory Pete took command from the start and cruised to a 5 1/2-length victory over Lake Meza under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in Thursday’s $39,400 allowance feature at Hollywood Park.

A change in surface didn’t adversely affect the 7-5 favorite as he covered 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in 1:41.82 to win for the second time in eight starts. The 3-year-old son of Five Star Day was making his second start following an eight-month layoff.