Monday, December 19 2011
FIELD SIZE, HANDLE INCREASES AT AUTUMN MEET
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 18, 2011)—Field size and the handle on races run at Hollywood Park increased from a year ago during the 26-day Autumn meet, which concluded Sunday.
The handle on races run at Hollywood Park was $151,319,791 compared to $132,933,380 during a comparable six week period in the 2010 season, which began one week earlier and included two days of Breeders’ Cup simulcasts. Average daily live race handle increased by 9.5%.
MENSA HEAT REBOUNDS IN CLOSING DAY ON TRUST
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 18, 2011)—Mensa Heat rebounded from a poor effort in the California Cup Sprint Oct. 29, rallying to take the $84,500 On Trust Handicap, the closing day feature of the Autumn meet Sunday at Hollywood Park.
The 1 ½ length victory over 18-1 shot Legal Separation and five other fellow California breds was the sixth of 2011 for the 5-year-old gelded son of Unusual Heat and the Ole’ mare Chi Chi Nette.
Hollywood Park: STABLE NOTES Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011
LIAISON LOOKS TO FOLLOW IN BIG FOOTSTEPS
“He’s doing really well,” Bob Baffert said by telephone from his Santa Anita base Sunday morning in an update on Liaison, who gave the Hall of Fame trainer a record sixth victory in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park Saturday.
Liaison, recording his third straight victory under jockey Rafael Bejarano, hopes to follow in the giant footsteps of Baffert’s five previous winners--Real Quiet, Captain Steve, Point Given, Pioneerof the Nile and Lookin at Lucky--who collectively went on to earn a Horse of the Year title and three Eclipse Awards while capturing one Kentucky Derby, three Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes, one Dubai World Cup, one Hollywood Gold Cup and two Santa Anita Derbies, among others.
Sunday, December 18 2011
PLAYER’S PICK 5 CARRYOVER ($183,594) CLOSING DAY
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 17, 2011)—An upset by Bud I Crushed It ($173.40) in the final leg Saturday created a carryover of $183,594 in the Player’s Pick 5 for Sunday, closing day of the Autumn meet, at Hollywood Park.
Since it is the final day of the 26-day season, there will be a mandatory payout in the Pick 5, which has a 14% takeout rate and is offered on the first five races, as well as the Pick 6 and the Super High 5.
LIAISON GIVES BAFFERT SIXTH CASHCALL WIN
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 17, 2011)—Five weeks removed from a half-length victory in his stakes debut in the Real Quiet, Liaison became a Grade I winner, defeating Rousing Sermon and 11 other 2-year-olds in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity Saturday at Hollywood Park.
In the process, the son of Indian Charlie, who was euthanized Thursday in Kentucky at age 16 after battling cancer, and the Victory Gallop mare Galloping Gal became the second consecutive Real Quiet winner to repeat in the Futurity. Comma to the Top completed the parlay en route to Horse of the Meet honors in 2010.
Saturday, December 17 2011
THREE WINS IN A ROW FOR BLUE TAMBOURINE
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 16, 2011)—Cutting back in distance and going turf to synthetic, Blue Tambourine made it three consecutive wins in the $48,638 allowance feature Friday at Hollywood Park.
The gate-to-wire victory was her second since being claimed for $20,000 by trainer Peter Miller for Altamira Racing Stable and David Bernsen. The 5-year-old Proud Citizen mare was taken from a race in which she defeated maidens by 3 ½ lengths Oct. 14 at Santa Anita, an outing that followed a layoff of more than 15 months.
Thursday, December 15 2011
MEGASTAR ENDS DRY SPELL WITH 9-1 SURPRISE
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 15, 2011)—Megastar won for the first time in nearly 19 months, edging favored Uncle Sam by a nose to take the $52,000 feature Thursday at Hollywood Park.
Taking advantage of a quick pace, the 5-year-old Malibu Moon gelding cruised up to join Uncle Sam after the 7-10 choice had disposed of the newly-blinkered longshot Bonfire Knight, then won a hard fought decision under left handed urging from jockey Joe Talamo.
TWO CONTESTANTS STILL ALIVE IN SHOW ME THE MONEY
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 15, 2011)—Hugo Avila of Los Angeles and owner-breeder Diane Fradkin of Santa Ana remained alive in the $2,500 winner-take-all Show Me The Money contest with three days remaining in the Autumn meet at Hollywood Park.
The free challenge, which began November 12 with 2,719 players, requires a participant to choose one horse each racing day – in six designated races - at least 10 minutes prior to the first race. The selected horse must finish first, second or third for a player to continue.
SEVEN SCHEDULED TO RUN IN CLOSING DAY ON TRUST
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 15, 2011)—Mensa Heat, a four time winner since being claimed April 15, is among seven set to go in the $80,000 On Trust Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park.
Restricted to California breds at 7 ½ furlongs over Cushion Track, the On Trust is the ninth of 10 races on the 26th and final program of the Autumn meet. Post time is 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 14 2011
CAPITAL PLAN, ROSARIO MAKE IT LOOK EASY
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 14, 2011)—Capital Plan won for the second time in three starts since being purchased privately in August, easily defeating four opponents in the $52,000 feature Wednesday at Hollywood Park.
Owned by Mark DeDomenico and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the 3-year-old Rock Hard Ten filly out of the Strawberry Road mare Miss Dahlia took the lead before a quarter of a mile had been run, relaxed nicely under leading rider Joel Rosario and won by 3 ¾ lengths without being asked for her best.
DUO CONTINUE TO BATTLE IN SHOW ME THE MONEY
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 14, 2011)—Hugo Avila of Los Angeles and owner-breeder Diane Fradkin of Santa Ana remained alive in the $2,500 winner-take-all Show Me The Money contest heading into the final four days of the Autumn meet at Hollywood Park.
The free challenge, which began November 12 with 2,719 players, requires a participant to choose one horse each racing day – in six designated races - at least 10 minutes prior to the first race. The selected horse must finish first, second or third for a player to continue.
BAFFERT TRIO, 10 OTHERS SET FOR CASHCALL FUTURITY
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (December 14, 2011)—Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the $750,000-guaranteed CashCall Futurity a record five times, will have three representatives when he aims for another victory in the Grade I for 2-year-olds Saturday at Hollywood Park.
The Futurity, which is run at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track, is the ninth of 10 races Saturday. Post time is 12:30 p.m. There will be a hooded sweatshirt giveaway – one per paid admission while supplies last.
