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.

Monday, November 24 2008

JACK O’LANTERN GIVES MATLOW FIRST GRADED WIN IN PREVUE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2008) — Jack o’ Lantern, given a perfect trip by Isaias Enriquez, found room along the rail in the stretch and took charge nearing the sixteenth pole en route to a $41.80 upset in Sunday’s $103,700 Hollywood Prevue at Hollywood Park.

Favorite Azul Leon finished a half-length back in second in the Grade III event — a major stepping-stone to the CashCall Futurity here Dec. 20. Ventana and Arashi Cat were another half-length back in a dead heat for third while second choice Backbackbackgone finished fifth and Congor Bay sixth.

TWO SCHEDULE CHANGES THANKSGIVING WEEK AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2008) — The schedule at Hollywood Park will change this week with an 11 a.m. post time on Thanksgiving Day and a 12:30 p.m. post time on Friday when the three-day Turf Festival begins.

Other than the early post on Thursday, post time will be at 12:30 p.m. through the remainder of the 40-day meeting, which concludes Dec. 21.

AUTOGRAPHED ZENYATTA POSTERS SUNDAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2008) — Patrons will receive a Zenyatta poster autographed by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith when the unbeaten Horse of the Year candidate is honored at Hollywood Park on Sunday, Nov. 30 — closing day of the 17th Turf Festival.

Zenyatta, owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, has won each of her nine starts, most recently capturing the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic to clinch distaff honors and establish herself as a legitimate contender for Horse of the Year along with Curlin.

Sunday, November 23 2008

GOMEZ CAPS FOUR-WIN DAY ABOARD JOHNNY EVES IN UNDERWOOD

NGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2008) — Garrett Gomez capped a four-win afternoon as Johnny Eves gained the lead from gritty pacesetter Wiredfortwotwenty in deep stretch and held late-charging Northern Solider at bay to win the $108,400 Vernon O. Underwood by one length Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Gomez, headed for his third straight title as the nation’s leading money-winning jockey, made no mistakes as he had Johnny Eves in perfect stalking position through the first half-mile. As the field turned for home, Johnny Eves moved up on the outside of Wiredfortwotwenty and Bob Black Jack and proved best in the lane, covering six furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:07.90.

Hollywood Park Stable Notes: Sunday, November 23, 2008

MUNY WORKS FOR HOLLYWOOD DERBY

Muny was “on the money” for the $500,000 Hollywood Derby next Sunday. The front-running Oak Tree Derby winner worked six furlongs breezing in 1:14 on turf at Hollywood Park Sunday to the delight of trainer Mike Puype and jockey David Flores.

“He was going as easy as can be; he’s ready to go,” said Puype after the drill in company with stablemate El Carillero, who came from behind and closed two lengths in the stretch but did not pass the leader, under a hold by Flores.

Saturday, November 22 2008

BACKBACKBACKGONE AIMS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT IN PREVUE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2008) — Unbeaten Backbackbackgone will try to stretch his winning streak to four when he returns to Hollywood Park for Sunday’s $100,000 Hollywood Prevue.

The son of Put It Back — named for the phrase made popular by broadcaster Chris Berman — scored a ten-length victory in his career debut at Bay Meadows before drawing off to win the Willard L. Proctor Memorial by four lengths here in May. He prevailed by a nose while making his most recent start in the Jack Goodman at Santa Anita Park in October.

HP Stable Notes: Friday, November 21, 2008

GIO PONTI WORKS FOR HOLLYWOOD DERBY

Gio Ponti, a leading contender for the $500,000 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 30, worked Friday at Santa Anita for the Grade I test for 3-year-olds at 1 ¼ miles on turf.

“He breezed five eighths in a minute and one fifth, the last quarter in 23 and change,” said a satisfied Nicholas Bachalard, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement, after the drill under exercise rider Paul Turner. “He will school in the paddock at Hollywood Park for the second time tomorrow.”

Friday, November 21 2008

SPRING STYLE RALLIES AS ROSARIO COMPLETES HAT-TRICK IN FEATURE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2008) — Spring Style, a 17-1 shot with eight rivals to catch straightening for home, rallied in the middle of the course under jockey Joel Rosario to win Thursday’s $40,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Hollywood Park, helping set the stage for a two-day Pick Six carryover of $251,712 when racing resumes Friday.

Nautical Rule, ridden by Joseph Talamo, clinched the carryover by winning the nightcap at odds of better than 22-1. The Pick Six begins with the third race on Friday’s card, which is the final night program of the year. First post time is 7:05 p.m.

BOB BLACK JACK RETURNS IN VERNON O. UNDERWOOD

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2008) — World record-holder Bob Black Jack, who earned a trip to the Kentucky Derby with a second-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby, will return to the races when he faces older horses in Saturday’s $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood at Hollywood Park.

The son of Stormy Jack, who set the pace before tiring and finishing 16th in the Kentucky Derby, established a world record of 1:06.53 for six furlongs at Santa Anita in January. He then finished third in the San Felipe and was the runner-up — beaten a half-length by Colonel John — in the Santa Anita Derby.

Thursday, November 20 2008

HP Notes: Thursday, November 20, 2008

FRENCH INVADER ALBHARI TO RUN IN HOLLYWOOD DERBY

French-based Albhari is scheduled to be shipped to California next week and run in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 30, trainer Patrick Biancone said Thursday from Santa Anita after supplementing the 3-year-old gelding for $10,000.

“He’s coming Monday,” said Biancone of the horse purchased out of the Arqana Sale at Saint-Cloud Monday by Ed Gann of San Diego. “He just won a listed stake at Le Croise Laroche (Nov. 3 at 1 5/16 miles).”

Wednesday, November 19 2008

HP Notes: Wednesday, November 19, 2008

CRIMINOLOGIST TO SUPPLEMENT FOR MATRIARCH

Criminologist, a multiple graded stakes winner, will be supplemented to the $500,000 Matriarch on Nov. 30 at Hollywood Park, trainer Shug McGaughey confirmed Wednesday from New York. The fee is $10,000 for the Grade I test for fillies and mares at one mile on turf.

“All systems are go,” said McGaughey from Belmont Park, where the 5-year-old mare has worked three times since a third-place finish as the favorite in the Oct. 11 Athenia Handicap.