Monday, December 01 2008

DOMINGUEZ SWEEPS DERBY AND MATRIARCH WITH LATE CHARGES

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2008) — Second-choice Court Vision, last in the field of nine at the quarter pole, rallied in the middle of the course to win the Hollywood Derby as jockey Ramon Dominguez completed a sweep of $500,000, Grade I events on Sunday’s final day of the Turf Festival at Hollywood Park.

Eastern-based Dominguez, who won with his first two Hollywood Park mounts in the 2004 Turf Festival, also guided favorite Cocoa Beach to a come-from-behind victory two races earlier in The Matriarch.

HP Stable Notes: Sunday, November 30, 2008

RUSHING TO THE TURF CUP

Trainer Mike Machowsky said Sunday that Rush Rush would seek his first stakes victory in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, a Grade I test at 1 ½ miles on turf Saturday.

“He’s kind of a quirky horse to ride, and I think Victor (jockey Victor Espinoza) has figured him out pretty well,” said Santa Anita-based Machowsky of the 5-year-old gelding who rallied to finish second in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf here Nov. 12 in his first start under Espinoza.

Rush Rush won a grass race at 1 ¼ miles here last year but has been unplaced in two tries at 1 ½ miles, including a fourth-place finish in the 2007 Sunset Handicap.

Sunday, November 30 2008

SUTHERLAND NOTCHES FIRST HOLLYPARK STAKES WIN ON MR. ROD

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2008) — While California Flag solidified his credentials as a top flight sprinter with a scintillating performance in the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express, Mr. Rod and Canadian jockey Chantal Sutherland served notice they belong in first class company with a front-running win in the $109,300 Generous Stakes on Saturday’s second day of Hollywood Park’s three-day Turf Festival.

Sutherland, a 32-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, registered her first Hollywood Park stakes win in the Grade III Generous, but she is no stranger to the winner’s circle. She is among North America’s leading jockeys in 2008 as her mounts have earned more than $5.7 million. She was third in the standings at Canada’s Woodbine before leaving in October to ride at Santa Anita Park, where she had enjoyed success earlier in the year.

Saturday, November 29 2008

HYPERBARIC SCORES FRONT-RUNNING WIN UNDER BAZE IN CITATION

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 28, 2008) — Jack Preston’s Hyperbaric, given a breather by jockey Tyler Baze down the backstretch, dug in through the stretch to hold off all challengers en route to a front-running victory in the $400,000 Citation Handicap as the 17th Turf Festival began Friday with a pair of graded stakes at Hollywood Park.

The victory was the fourth consecutive for Hyperbaric, who notched his first Grade I win while covering 1 1/16 miles on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:41.29. Formal Decree finished three-quarters of a length back in second, followed by Becrux, Proudinsky, Medici Code and even-money favorite Whatsthescript in the field of nine older horses.

HP Stable Notes: Friday, November 28, 2008

PLETCHER HOPES TO CONTINUE THANKSGIVING WEEK ROLL

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who began the Thanksgiving Day weekend at Hollywood Park with an impressive victory by Bsharpsonata in the $68,400 Playa del Rey Stakes Thursday, hopes to carry that momentum into the Turf Festival Saturday and Sunday.

New York-based Pletcher, who has won five Turf Festival races with just 17 starters, entered Cowboy Cal in the Hollywood Derby and Roshani in The Matriarch, the $500,000 Grade I co-features Sunday. He also entered Bittel Road and Hype in the $100,000-added Generous Stakes for 2-year-olds Saturday.

ZENYATTA GANG LOOKS TO VISIT WINNER’S CIRCLE WITH MADEO

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 28, 2008) — Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, trainer John Shirreffs and owners/breeders Jerry and Ann Moss have one trip to the Hollywood Park winner’s circle guaranteed and are hoping for a second with Madeo following Sunday’s $500,000 Hollywood Derby.

The connections will make a winner’s circle appearance as Horse of the Year candidate Zenyatta will be paraded between races on Sunday’s program. They hope to return later in the afternoon when Del Mar Derby winner and Oak Tree Derby runner-up Madeo faces eight rivals in the 67th running of the Hollywood Derby.

Friday, November 28 2008

BSHARPSONATA RALLIES UNDER GOMEZ IN PLAYA DEL REY

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 27, 2008) — Bsharpsonata, fifth on the rail with a quarter-mile to run under Garrett Gomez, split horses approaching the sixteenth pole and cruised to a 1 1/2-length victory over favorite Peppermint Lounge in the $68,400 Playa del Rey on Thursday at Hollywood Park.

The daughter of Pulpit, overlooked in wagering at 7-1 despite competing with the nation’s leading 3-year-old fillies in the spring, covered six furlongs on Cushion Track in a stakes record 1:07.95 for her seventh win in 12 starts.

Thursday, November 27 2008

JUVENILES HIGHLIGHT HILL ‘N’ DALE CIGAR MILE UNDERCARD

When Thoroughbred owner Jeff Puglisi expanded and restructured his racing operation in 2008, included in his business plan was a multi-million commitment to purchase 2-year-olds, the vast majority of which would be fillies.

“In terms of residuals, fillies hold their value better than colts,” explained trainer Steve Klesaris. “If they become graded stakes winner and have some family, they’re worth something.”

From a business standpoint, Puglisi made a good choice.

SPEEDY CALIFORNIA FLAG TRIES TO REBOUND IN TURF EXPRESS

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 27, 2008) — California Flag, who led before tiring in the final eighth to finish tenth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, will try to bounce back in the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express on Saturday’s second day of the three-day Turf Festival at Hollywood Park.

The gray/roan gelding won the Morvich Handicap and three of his last four starts preceding the Breeders’ Cup for Hi Card Ranch and trainer Brian Koriner. He will break from the outside post in a ten-horse field for the Turf Express, which will be run at six furlongs on the Lakeside Turf Course. The field for the 23rd running of the Grade III event lines up as follows from the rail out:

HP Stable Notes: Thursday, November 27, 2008

FRANKEL SEEKS FIFTH STRAIGHT MATRIARCH

Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel has reached several milestones during an illustrious career, and he stands in a strong position to reach another Sunday when he sends out a powerful one-two punch of Precious Kitten and Visit in quest of a fifth straight victory in the $500,0000 Matriarch at Hollywood Park.

The Grade I test is for fillies and mares at one mile on turf and is co-featured with the $500,000 Hollywood Derby. The Sunday races climax the three-day Turf Festival, which begins Friday with the $400,000 Citation Handicap and $100,000-added Miesque Stakes.

FOREST MELODY CRUISES UNDER ROSARIO IN HOLLYPARK FEATURE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2008) — Forest Melody gained control early, repelled a bid by Double Dip on the turn for home, and cruised to a 3 1/4-length victory under jockey Joel Rosario in the $43,000 allowance feature Wednesday at Hollywood Park.

The 4-year-old filly covered 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in 1:43.78 for her third victory in 20 starts, snapping a seven-race winless streak in the process.

Wednesday, November 26 2008

HP Stable Notes:  Wednesday, November 26, 2008

COURT VISION, SAILOR’S CAP ARRIVE FOR HOLLYWOOD DERBY

Court Vision and Sailor’s Cap, a pair of stakes winners from the East, arrived at Hollywood Park this week for the $500,000 Hollywood Derby on Sunday.

The Hollywood Derby and $500,000 Matriarch are co-features closing day of the three-day, six-stake Turf Festival, which begins Friday.

Court Vision arrived in Barn 60 North Tuesday from Florida, while Sailor’s Cap was flown in Monday from New York and was stabled in Barn 50 North.