Inaugural Oak Tree At Hollywood Park Meet Will Begin Sept. 30; Zenyatta Scheduled To Return In $250,000 Lady’s Secret On Oct. 2
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INGLEWOOD, Calif. (September 2, 2010)—Prior to its autumn season, which commences with a night card on Thursday, Nov. 4, Hollywood Park will play host for the first time to Oak Tree. The 42nd season will begin on Sept. 30 and continue through Oct. 31.
Uncertainty regarding the condition of the main track at Santa Anita triggered the move of the Oak Tree Racing Association, a not-for-profit, non-dividend paying group of California owners and breeders, away from the venue it has occupied since 1969.
The main event on opening night – post time 7:05 p.m. — is the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Handicap, a Grade III for older fillies and mares on the turf. Due to a different course configuration, the Maddy is one of three grass stakes during the Oak Tree season that will have a distance change.
Zenyatta Works Bullet Five Furlongs Prepping For Lady’s Secret
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (September 2, 2010)—Zenyatta worked a strong five furlongs Thursday morning at Hollywood Park preparing for her next start in the $250,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes on Oct. 2.
The drill in 1:00.20 over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park was the second for the 6-year-old Street Cry mare since she won the Clement Hirsch Stakes for an unprecedented third time on Aug. 7 at Del Mar.
Zenyatta’s victory over Rinterval and five others in the Hirsch was her 18th in a row for owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs.
Hollywood Park Graduate Tries To Stay Perfect In Debutante
Wickedly Perfect takes the Sorrento on Aug. 6.
© Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (September 1, 2010)—Wickedly Perfect, who began her career with a maiden victory at Hollywood Park on June 27, will look for her second graded win in a row when she faces 11 other 2-year-old fillies Saturday in the $250,000 Darley Debutante at Del Mar.
Trained by Doug O’Neill for a partnership that includes STD Racing Stable, the daughter of Congrats won by nearly five lengths in her initiation at Hollywood Park, then followed with a victory in the Sorrento, a Grade III, on Aug. 6 at Del Mar.
Rafael Bejarano retains the mount on the Florida bred gray, who was purchased earlier in the year for $70,000. She will try seven furlongs for the first time in the Debutante, a Grade I that is being run for the 60th time.
Gold Cup Winner Awesome Gem Seeks Repeat In Pacific Classic
Awesome Gem and jockey David Flores, right, outrun Rail Trip (Rafael Bejarano up) to win the Hollywood Gold Cup. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (August 25, 2010)—Awesome Gem, who earned the biggest win of his career when upsetting favored Rail Trip in the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10, will try for another significant victory Saturday at Del Mar.
A 7-year-old gelded son of Awesome Again owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Craig Dollase, Awesome Gem is among 10 scheduled to compete in the $1 million Pacific Classic. A Grade 1 at 1 ¼ miles, the Classic is the eighth of 11 races on the program.
If Awesome Gem, who has won seven of 36 and earned $2,274,682, is successful Saturday, he will become the third horse to win both the Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic. The Kentucky bred would join Lava Man (2006) and Gentlemen (1997).
Hollywood Park Stakes Winners Shine At Del Mar, Saratoga
Evening Jewel, under Victor Espinoza, takes the Del Mar Oaks. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (August 23, 2010)—Hollywood Park stakes winners had a successful weekend at both Del Mar and Saratoga.
Clearly the front runner to be the champion 3-year-old filly, Blind Luck became the first winner of the Hollywood Starlet to capture the Alabama Stakes, winning the Grade 1 by a neck.
The victory was the ninth – five coming in Grade 1’s – in 13 starts for Blind Luck, who is owned by Peter Abruzzo, John Carver, Mark DeDomenico and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The daughter of Pollard’s Vision was able to rally from last in the 1 ¼ mile race despite the extremely slow pace.
Harmonious Seeks Another Grade I Score In Del Mar Oaks
Jockey Martin Garcia guides Harmonoius to the winner's circle after victory in the American Oaks.
© Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (August 20, 2010)—Harmonious, who became a Grade I winner in only her fourth career start when winning the American Oaks on July 3 at Hollywood Park, will try for another prestigious victory in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks Saturday at Del Mar.
Owned by Emily, Pam and Marty Wygod and trained by John Shirreffs, Harmonious can become the first American Oaks winner to also win the Del Mar Oaks, a Grade I at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Dublino did take the Del Mar Oaks after being disqualified out of a victory in the inaugural American Oaks in 2002.
Undefeated in three starts on grass, Harmonious, a 3-year-old daughter of Dynaformer, will be reunited with jockey Mike Smith, who was aboard for her first two turf victories at Hollywood Park.
Blind Luck, Devil May Care Square Off In Alabama
Blind Luck cruises to a seven-length victory In the Hollywood Starlet. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (August 19, 2010)—Blind Luck, who capped her 2-year-old season with an easy win in the Hollywood Starlet last December, will try to do Saturday at Saratoga something no other Starlet heroine has ever done.
The daughter of Pollard’s Vision, who has four graded stakes victories in 2010, will look for a win in the $500,000 Betfair/TVG Alabama, a Grade I at 1 ¼ miles.
One of three fillies to win both the Starlet and the Kentucky Oaks – joining Goodbye Halo and Sardula – Blind Luck will have five opponents in the Alabama, which is being run for the 130th time.
California Flag Returns In $75,000 Green Flash Handicap
California Flag winning the 2008 Hollywood Turf Express.
© Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (August 17, 2010)—Three Hollywood Park stakes winners will get together in the $75,000 Green Flash Handicap Wednesday at Del Mar.
Headlining the field of eight in the race at five furlongs on turf is California Flag.
The easy winner of the 2008 Hollywood Turf Express, California Flag will be making his first start since he finished third as the favorite in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates on March 27.
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