Sunday, November 23 2008

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.

Sunday, November 16 2008

HP Stable Notes: Sunday, November 16, 2008

I CAN SEE EYES $500,000 MATRIARCH CLOSING DAY OF TURF FESTIVAL

I Can See, a 5-year-old mare who has overcome the handicap of blindness in one eye to earn more than $400,000, worked five furlongs on turf in 1:01.60 Sunday at Hollywood Park for the $500,000 Matriarch on Nov. 30. The Grade I Matriarch, co-featured with the $500,000 Hollywood Derby on closing day of the three-day Turf Festival, is for fillies and mares at one mile on grass.

“She worked very nicely, as good as I could expect,” said trainer Steve Knapp after the drill under exercise rider Fernando Serna. “I will work here once more next Sunday, and if all goes well, she will run in The Matriarch.”

EVITA ARGENTINA CHARGES THROUGH STRETCH TO WIN MOCASSIN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2008) — Evita Argentina, last much of the way, closed from eighth at the top of the stretch under jockey Tyler Baze to score a dramatic 1 1/2-length victory over front-running favorite Mi Chiamano Mimi in Sunday’s $111,100 Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Evita Argentina, who beat Stardom Bound in the Sorrento at Del Mar before chasing her home in the Del Mar Debutante and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, was 11th entering the far turn and only had three fillies behind her when she straightened for home.

She rallied with authority in the middle of the track while covering the seven furlongs in 1:21.80 on Cushion Track to win for the third time in five starts.

Saturday, November 15 2008

YOU LIFT ME UP HANGS ON UNDER SMITH TO WIN SKIRBALL-KENIS

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2008) — Longshot You Lift Me Up, given a perfect ride by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, relaxed on the lead and then gamely held her ground through the stretch to beat favorite Solar Miss by a head in the $81,800 Audrey Skirball-Kenis Stakes on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Smith held his ground along the rail aboard You Lift Me Up, refusing to give Garrett Gomez and Solar Miss running room until it was too late for the favorite as she came close, but failed to nail the front-runner on the wire.

Friday, November 14 2008

MITCHELL-GOMEZ AIM FOR REPEAT IN MOCCASIN STAKES

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2008) — The combination of trainer Mike Mitchell and jockey Garrett Gomez will aim for their second straight Moccasin Stakes victory Sunday at Hollywood Park as unbeaten Mi Chiamano Mimi aims to increase her winning streak to three in the $100,000 event.

Mitchell sent out Spring Awakening to win the seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies in a stakes record 1:21.33 in 2007. The victory was a record 71st for Gomez in a stakes as he went on to finish the year with 76, eclipsing Jerry Bailey’s mark of 70 in 2003.

Mi Chiamano Mimi, owned by Nathaniel Friedman, was a 4 ½-length winner while running for a claiming tag of $80,000 in her career debut Aug. 29 at Del Mar. She then won the six-furlong Anoakia in a swift 1:07 4/5 at Santa Anita on Oct. 19.

The daughter of Came Home will face tough competition in the field of 11, which lines up as follows from the rail out:

Mi Chiamano Mimi, Gomez up, carries 118 pounds; Casino Gold, David Flores, 116; Will O Way, Rafael Bejarano, 116; Wind Caper, Jose Valdivia Jr., 116; Malusita, Joel Rosario, 116; Pasar Silbano, Mike Smith, 120; Montana Fields, Michael Baze, 118; Evita Argentina, Tyler Baze, 122; Palacio de Amor, Victor Espinoza, 116; Wynning Ride, Joseph Talamo, 116, and Moontune Missy, Aaron Gryder, 116.

Evita Argentina and Palacio de Amor both try to rebound following ninth and 13th-place finishes, respectively, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Evita Argentina, trained by John Sadler, is the lone graded winner in the field. She won the Sorrento at Del Mar in her second start before finishing fourth in the Del Mar Debutante.

Palacio de Amor, owned and trained by Myung Kwon Cho, finished second behind Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Stardom Bound in the Del Mar Debutante and the Oak Leaf — both Grade I races.

Pasar Silbano won four of six starts in Ireland for trainer Ger Lyons and his wife, Lynn, who made the trip here for the Moccasin. The filly, recently purchased from the couple by Three Chimneys Racing, will be transferred to trainer Jim Cassidy following the race. Her first two starts — both victories — were on the all weather track at Dundalk, Ireland.

Casino Gold was fourth in the Anoakia; Will O Way won her career debut at Calder before finishing third in the Del Mar Debutante and sixth in the Oak Leaf; Wind Caper aims for her second win in as many starts; Malusita broke her maiden her in June and seeks her second win in her seventh start; Montana Fields has won two of five starts; Wynning Ride attempts to keep her record perfect in her second start, and Moontune Missy tries to improve her record to two-for-three.

The Moccasin will run as the eighth race on Sunday’s nine-race program at Hollywood Park. First post time is 12:30 p.m.

HP Stable Notes: Friday, November 14, 2008

SHAKIS WORKS IMPRESSIVELY FOR CITATION HANDICAP

Neal McLaughlin, brother and assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, had not visited Hollywood Park since the 1997 Breeders’ Cup, but he was happy to be back Friday.

McLaughlin, an assistant in New York and Florida for 16 years, was on hand to supervise the works of two Shadwell Farm candidates for the Turf Festival later this month.