INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 16, 2012)—A total of 98 horses were nominated to the $250,000 Hollywood Derby and $250,000 Matriarch, the two most significant races of the upcoming Turf Festival at Betfair Hollywood Park.

The first two Grade I’s of the Autumn meet, the Hollywood Derby and Matriarch will wrap the Festival Sunday November, 25.

The three-day Festival will begin Friday, November 23 with the Grade II, $250,000 Citation Handicap and continue the following day with the a pair of Grade III stakes – the $100,000 Miesque and $100,000 Generous – for 2-year-olds. The former is restricted to fillies.

Among the 53 nominated to the 1 ¼ mile Derby, which was won a year ago by longshot Ultimate Eagle, are Golden Ticket, who finished in a dead heat with Alpha in the Grade I Travers Aug. 25 at Saratoga, Grandeur, who won the Grade II Twilight Derby in his United States debut Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, Grade II Pennsylvania Derby winner Handsome Mike, five-time turf winner Summer Front and a quintet from the powerful barn of Dale Romans, including Pacific Classic winner Dullahan and Silver Max.

The 45 nominees to the one-mile Matriarch include Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection, defending champion Star Billing, 2011 runner-up Summer Soiree, the Dermot Weld-trained Emulous, a Group I winner last year in Ireland, Queen Elizabeth II Cup heroine Dayatthespa and multiple Grade I winner Tapitsfly.

Defending champion Jeranimo is one of 32 nominated to the Citation, which is run at 1 1/16 miles. Other notable noms are 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, Poker winner Clear Attempt, Mr. Commons, and Obviously, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 3.

The Generous has 14 nominees, five less than the Miesque. The races are at one mile.