INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 24, 2008) - Surf Cat, a convincing winner two years ago, will be the 120-pound high weight as he aims for his second victory in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park.
The 6-year-old son of Sir Cat has enjoyed some of his finest moments at Hollywood Park, including a five-length triumph in the 2005 Swaps Stakes. He closed for second in the 2007 Triple Bend Handicap in his only start on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track, which was installed following the 2006 Spring/Summer Meet.
Surf Cat, a winner of eight of 17 starts and $835,420 for Aase Headley and Marsha Naify, won the San Carlos Handicap on Santa Anita's synthetic surface two starts back.
The Grade II Mervyn LeRoy, the first major prep for the 69th running of the prestigious Hollywood Gold Cup here on June 28, drew a field of ten, which lines up as follows from the rail out:
Global Hunter, with Omar Berrio up, carries 115 pounds; Zappa, Joel Rosario, 115; Surf Cat, Alex Solis, 120; Buzzards Bay, Jose Valdivia Jr., 116; Giant Gizmo, Martin Garcia, 114; Desert Code, Aaron Gryder, 116; Monzante, Rafael Bejarano, 115; Neko Bay, Mike Smith, 113; Mr Napper Tandy, 113, and Fly Dorcego, Victor Espinoza, 115.
Buzzards Bay, the 2005 Santa Anita Derby winner, is the richest horse in the field with seven wins in 24 starts and earnings of $1,422,907. The 6-year-old won the 2006 Oaklawn Handicap and the 2007 Californian, but has only an allowance win in his last six starts. Trainer Ron Ellis will fit the chestnut with blinkers for the Mervyn LeRoy.
"I'm trying something to shake him up because it seems he isn't trying," Ellis said. "He moves to the head of the lane and doesn't go on with it. I hope this helps him focus."
Desert Code, winner of the Joe Hernandez while making his last start on turf, won the 2007 Affirmed Handicap here. He has five wins in 14 starts for earnings of $317,639.
Mike Mitchell, leading trainer at the recently-concluded Santa Anita Park meet, sends out Monzante in a bid for his second straight win. The 4-year-old won the Santana Mile in March and is two-for-four since arriving here from Europe last year.
Trainer Paulo Lobo, who sent out Molengao to win the race in 2007 and Ace Blue to win in 2005, will try for a Brazilian-bred hat-trick in the Mervyn LeRoy with Fly Dorcego.
"Fly Dorcego is the same level as Ace Blue," he said. "Molengao was a little better."
Fly Dorcego, a winner of six of 22 starts and $174,467, won a one-mile allowance race at Santa Anita on March 28.
Zappa, a 6-year-old gelding, won the Grade II San Pasqual Handicap in January, but has been unplaced in three graded races since then. He was fifth in the Santa Anita Handicap. The John Sadler trainee enters the Mervyn LeRoy with 11 wins in 30 starts and earnings of $351,712.
Argentine-bred Global Hunter makes his first North American start; Giant Gizmo aims for his second straight following an allowance win at Santa Anita; Neko Bay finished second to Monzante in the Santana Mile, and Mr Napper Tandy also enters following an allowance score at Santa Anita.
The Mervyn LeRoy runs as the seventh of nine races on Saturday's card. First post is at 1:20 p.m.
