Friday, December 19 2008

BAFFERT HOLDS A PAIR AS HE AIMS FOR RECORD-TYING FOURTH WIN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2008) — Bob Baffert will aim for a record-tying fourth CashCall Futurity victory when he saddles Pioneerof the Nile and Ventana in the 28th running of the $750,000 event Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Baffert’s most recent winner — Point Given in 2000 — was more accomplished entering the Grade I event, but his first — Real Quiet in 1997 — was less heralded. Both went on to win two legs of the Triple Crown, Point Given the Preakness and Belmont and Real Quiet the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Real Quiet came within a nose of sweeping the Triple Crown.

Hollywood Park Stable Notes:  Thursday, December 18, 2008

BEJARANO SEEKS TO ADD FUTURITY JEWEL TO MEET CROWN

Agent Joe Ferrer saluted jockey Rafael Bejarano for clinching the Autumn Meet title at Hollywood Park — completing a rare sweep of all five major stops on the Southern California circuit in 2008 — but admitted that something was missing.

“In a way, it’s been a very uneventful meet,” said Ferrer Thursday. “Rafael has won a lot of races, but not any major ones.”

Thursday, December 18 2008

HP Stable Notes: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008

AXEL FOLEY POISED FOR UPSET IN $750,000 FUTURITY

Martin Smith, assistant and exercise rider for English trainer John Best, hopes the stable enjoys as much success in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity Saturday at Hollywood Park with Axel Foley as it did with Square Eddie in the Breeders Futurity at Keeneland in October.

Axel Foley looms as the mystery horse in the Grade I Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track. He galloped on the main track for the second straight morning Wednesday after clearing quarantine here Monday following a 12-hour flight from Luxemburg to LAX Friday.

Monday, December 15 2008

STAR NICHOLAS RIGHT AT HOME AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2008) — Star Nicholas, a two-time winner here in the summer, rallied from fourth in the final quarter under jockey Michael Baze to win Sunday’s $77,275 On Trust Handicap by a half-length over Partywithlarryz.

Star Nicholas, trained by Peter Eurton, bore in through the stretch, but survived a stewards’ inquiry to earn his third win in five starts at Hollywood Park.

Hollywood Park Stable Notes: Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008

BAFFERT DUO DRILLS FOR $750,000 CASHCALL FUTURITY

Trainer Bob Baffert, fresh off a two-three finish in the Hollywood Starlet on Saturday, will try again with two entrants in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity here next Saturday.

Baffert gave the green light to Pioneerof the Nile and Ventana after the pair worked Sunday at Santa Anita.

Sunday, December 14 2008

LARAGH IN COMMAND UNDER PRADO IN HOLLYWOOD STARLET

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2008) — Laragh, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her previous start, shifted to Cushion Track and was in complete control as she scored a front-running victory under jockey Edgar Prado in Saturday’s $438,500 Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park.

Laragh broke on top under Prado, was briefly challenged when a trio led by Pamona Ball challenged her heading into the backstretch, but quickly re-established her position. She cruised down the backstretch, opened up on the turn for home, and was not seriously threatened in the stretch while posting a one-length victory over Wynning Ride in a time of 1:41.96 for 1 1/16 miles.

Saturday, December 13 2008

INFORMED PROVES TO BE A BARGAIN FOR NEW OWNER

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2008) — Informed, a $500,000 yearling purchase who was claimed for the bargain price of $25,000 earlier this year, scored a 1 1/2-length victory under jockey Aaron Gryder in the $43,000 allowance/claiming feature Friday at Hollywood Park.

Gryder gave Informed a well-timed, ground-saving trip and the 4-year-old son of Tiznow drew clear with ease in the stretch while covering 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in 1:41.53.

BAHAMA BREEZE AIMS FOR SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN IN ON TRUST

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2008) — Undefeated Bahama Breeze will ship south in search of his sixth victory in Sunday’s $75,000 On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Bahama Breeze, claimed for $40,000 while winning his career bow on Jan. 12 at Golden Gate Fields, has added four wins since joining the barn of trainer Steve Miyadi. The bay son of Lord Carson has been favored in three of those races, the exception when he shipped to Santa Anita Park to win a state-bred allowance race in February.

PAMONA BALL SEEKS THIRD STRAIGHT VICTORY IN HOLLYWOOD STARLET

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2008) — Darley Stable’s Pamona Ball will take a big step up in class as she aims for her third consecutive victory and her first graded stakes win in Saturday’s $429,500 Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park.

Pamona Ball, trained by Eoin Harty, followed up a maiden win in October by rallying to score a one-length victory over Toro Bonito in the Sharp Cat Stakes here in November. Both were run at the Starlet distance of 1 1/16 miles.

Friday, December 12 2008

HP Stable Notes: Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

FRUMIOUS FIRES BULLET FOR CASHCALL FUTURITY

Northern California invader Frumious worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.80 Friday on Cushion Track under jockey Victor Espinoza for the $750,000 CashCall Futurity on Dec. 20.

Trainer Jeff Bonde shipped the colt from Golden Gate Fields on Sunday with groom Julio Rodriguez to the barn of trainer Craig Dollase, who supervised the drill.

SERRA SONG WINS BATTLE OF GRAYS IN HOLLYPARK FEATURE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2008) — Even-money favorite Serra Song out-dueled fellow gray/roan colt Lucky Honey through the stretch to win Thursday’s $43,144 allowance feature at Hollywood Park by a head under jockey Victor Espinoza.

Serra Song, owned by B. Wayne Hughes and trained by Richard Mandella, covered 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in 1:41.11 while winning for the second time in five starts.

Thursday, December 11 2008

HP Stable Notes: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

LARAGH ARRIVES FOR $429,500 HOLLYWOOD STARLET

Trainer John Terranova and Laragh, entered in the $429,500 Hollywood Starlet on Saturday, were making themselves comfortable in the Bob Baffert stable here Thursday, just as Baffert and his horses do when they ship to New York and reside in the Terranova barn at Belmont Park.

“She just walked this morning,” said Terranova. “She flew in last night. It was an uneventful trip. She was on a Fed Ex flight from Newark to LAX with Silver Stetson Man (a Baffert trainee).”