Saturday, December 22, 2007

Hollywood Park Closing 12/22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mike Mooney
(310) 419-1631


HOLLYWOOD PARK DEFIES THE ODDS WITH 4% INCREASE IN HANDLE
Daily Average of $10.9 Million Compared to $10.4 Million in 2006

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 22, 2007) — Hollywood Park, despite going against a meeting which included the Breeders’ Cup simulcast, closed its 32-day Autumn Meet on Saturday with average daily handle of $10.9 million — up 4.7 percent from the figure of $10.4 million in 2006.

“Last year was the only time simulcast wagering on the Breeders’ Cup was available during the Autumn Meet, so we’re ecstatic with this year’s increase,” track president Jack Liebau said. “Excluding Breeders’ Cup day, we finished ahead in on-track wagering and up eight percent in total handle.”

On-track attendance averaged 4,944, up 3.6 percent from the figure of 4,775 in 2006. The on-track average handle of $1.3 million was down 4.8 percent from $1.4 million in 2006, but excluding Breeders’ Cup day, on-track handle was up 1.6 percent.

An eight percent increase in Advance Deposit Wagering on Hollywood Park races helped boost handle figures. Eighty-five percent of ADW money came through TVG and YouBet.com at the first Southern California meeting with all four California-licensed providers on line.

The Autumn Meet was highlighted by the Turf Festival on Thanksgiving Weekend and deep, quality fields in the major stakes races, including 12 starters in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity on closing day.
The CashCall Futurity, sponsored by J. Paul Reddam’s consumer loans company, drew several horses from across the country and generated the best handle at the meeting with an on-track count of $2,509,875 and total handle of $18,510,491. Average field size was 8.6 starters compared to 8.5 a year ago. Purses averaged more than $400,000, compared to $389,000 in 2006.

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Friday, December 21, 2007

Hollywood Park Nite Lead 12/21

CURIOUSLY SWEET OVERCOMES SLOW START TO WIN CAT’S CRADLE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2007) — Favorite Curiously Sweet overcame a slow start to post her third straight victory with Patrick Valenzuela up in Friday’s $107,200 Cat’s Cradle Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The victory was the third in a stakes race at the Autumn Meet for John Sadler, who has already clinched leading trainer honors with 21 wins entering Saturday’s closing program.
Curiously Sweet, a 3-year-old daughter of Mud Route, covered 7 ½ furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:28.15 while paying $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Kalookan Year returned $4.20 and $3.20, while the show payoff on Fun Logic was $5.

"The three-horse (Fun Logic) kind of came over on her a little at the start,” Valenzuela said. “I had to grab her for a moment, but she got right into the race on her own and was well in hand the whole way. I had to make a move at the half-mile pole because I didn't want to be stuck on the inside. When I asked her in the stretch she picked it up nice. Never had to hit her."

Curiously Sweet, claimed for $40,000 from her first start, won for the fourth time in seven races. The winner’s share of $67,200 raised her earnings to $207,600.
Trainer Marty Jones saddled three winners on the card — High Standards ($39) in the third race, Waafi ($30.20) in the seventh and Captain Sacto ($21) in the eighth.

Hollywood Park Quotes 12/21

$107,200
Cat’s Cradle Handicap
11th Running
7 1/2 Furlongs


Jockey Quotes

PAT VALENZUELA, CURIOUSLY SWEET, Winner: "The three-horse (Fun Logic) kind of came over on her a little at the start. I had to grab her for a moment, but she got right into the race on her own and was well in hand the whole way. I had to make a move at the half-mile pole because I didn't want to be stuck on the inside. When I asked her in the stretch she picked it up nice. Never had to hit her."

MIKE SMITH, KALOOLKAN YEAR, Second: "She ran dynamite. She ran a winning race but just didn't finish first. I'm really proud of her."

JOE TALAMO, FUN LOGIC, Third: "We had a perfect trip. I pretty much stayed two-wide the whole way. She ran hard but just got out-run."

Trainer Quotes

JOHN SADLER, CURIOUSLY SWEET, Winner: "It was a kind of a funny race because of the pace scenario — there was no pace. They all looked bunched up but she was strong. She will be going to the Sunshine Millions. The first time I ran her back I was down in Florida at the Sunshine Millions where she ran third and came home flying. I thought this filly might be okay and here it is a year later. You never know what's going to happen."


NOTES: The stakes win was the third of the meet for John Sadler, who has clinched leading trainer honors with 21 victories heading into Saturday’s closing-day program.


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