The Forty Niner, the featured eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m., is a 1 1/16 mile contest for three year olds and up. Pass the Heat is an 8 to 5 morning line favorite in a field of six.
Pass the Heat is a five year old gelding who has won half of his 18 career starts and three of his last four races. Trained by William J. Morey, Jr., and owned by the Joseph P. Morey, Jr. Revocable Trust, Pass the Heat has earned $321,499.
Pass the Heat will face some sharp opponents in the Forty Niner, including Dakota Phone and Running Rich.
Dakota Phone, a three year old gelding trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, has recorded three wins in his last five outings and enters the Forty Niner off a game victory in a 1 1/16 mile allowance race at Hollywood Park on November 8, Dakota Phone has finished in the money in eight of his eleven races.
Running Rich has won three straight races since being claimed for $25,000 by trainer Kent Molinaro on Aug 15. In his most recent start on November 15, the four year old colt pulled away in the stretch to post a four length victory in a one mile $50,000 Allowance/ Optional Claiming event. Running Rich has been victorious in eith of his 20 career races.
The field for the Forty Niner Stakes, in post position order, is as follows: Holy Thunder, Isaias Enriquez, 123 lbs., 10-1; Pass the Heat, Russell Baze, 123 lbs, 8 to 5; Racketeer, Leslie Mawing, 123, 10-1; Gallon, Kyle Kaenel, 120, 7 to 2; Running Rich, Roberto Gonzalez, 123, 6 to 1; and Dakota Phone, Frank Alvarado, 120, 5 to 2.
