O’Neill, Rosario Make Cases For The Defense
Jockey Joel Rosario. © Benoit Photo
Doug O’Neill successfully defended honors as leading trainer for the meet and Joel Rosario stood in a strong position to repeat as leading rider as the Hollywood Park spring-summer meet reached its final program today.
O’Neill returned from a 15-day suspension Saturday to send out My Maloof Rocker to victory in the seventh race and take a 28-26 lead over Bob Baffert. Baffert has only one starter remaining today.
O’Neill wrapped up his fifth Spring/Summer Meet crown here since 2003. He also led in 2005 and tied for top honors in 2007. O’Neill also won Autumn Meet titles here in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Mitchell Hopes To Stake Another Claim To Fame
Trainer Mike Mitchell.
© Benoit Photo
Trainer Mike Mitchell, who has made a career of converting claims into graded stakes winners, hopes to add Dynamic Range to the growing list in the $100,000 Sunset Handicap, closing-day feature of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meet Sunday.
Mitchell entered Dynamic Range Thursday morning with jockey Rafael Bejarano against six rivals in the Grade III test at 1 ½ miles on turf. The 4-year-old gelding will make his first start for the Mitchell barn since being claimed for $40,000 on May 20 by Indizguys Stable.
Mitchell hopes that the son of Dynaformer pans out as well as Star Over the Bay, an $80,000 claim who included the 2004 Sunset among several major stakes conquests, and On the Acorn, a $40,000 claim who won the Jim Murray Memorial Handicap in 2007 and 2008 for Indizguys.
Sidney’s Candy, Golden Itiz Work For Swaps Stakes
Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney's Candy. © Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney’s Candy and “now” horse Golden Itiz turned in their final works Sunday for the $200,000 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park Saturday. The Grade II Swaps is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on Cushion Track.
Sidney’s Candy was timed in 1:25.60 for seven furlongs under regular jockey Joe Talamo. Golden Itiz, winner of the Affirmed Handicap here on June 19, drilled five furlongs in 1:02.40 under exercise rider Jose Dominguez.
“He went really smooth all the way,” said John Sadler, trainer of Sidney’s Candy. The chestnut Candy Ride colt will try to rebound from a 17th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on May 1.
Rail Trip Ready For Gold Cup Repeat
Rail Trip will break from post six in Saturday's Hollywood Gold. Cup. © Benoit Photo
Trainer Ron Ellis said Thursday from Barn 52 North that he was happy with post six in a field of seven in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Saturday for Rail Trip, who defends his crown in the Grade I test at 1 ¼ miles on Cushion Track.
“The post is perfect,” said Ellis, who will be outside the other two horses who have shown speed, Compari and Tres Borrachos. “If the race was run on paper, I think we would be sitting third. But as you know, they’re not run on paper.”
Ellis thinks he is bringing a fresher, stronger, more mature horse to the Gold Cup this year. “He’s doing real well,” said Ellis after the 5-year-old gelding jogged on the main track. Rail Trip makes only his third start of the year after an eight-month layoff. Last year the Gold Cup was his eighth start in eight months.
Tres Borrachos Poised For Gold Cup Surprise
Tres Borrachos finished second behind Rail Trip in the 2009 Gold Cup. © Benoit Photo
Tres Borrachos, a delight of longshot players, is poised to spring another surprise in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Saturday.
“He’s got ability, he’s been training well, there’s nothing wrong with him and he’s got a good record at Hollywood Park,” said trainer and co-owner Beau Greely Sunday of the 5-year-old gelding.
Tres Borrachos, which means “three drunks” in Spanish, has run like one on several occasions and run like a top stakes horse on others.
Rail Trip Tops List Of 15 Nominees To Gold Cup
Rail Trip takes the Californian under Rafael Bejarano on June 12. © Benoit Photo
Defending champion Rail Trip heads a lineup of 15 nominations to the $500,000 Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup, the piece de resistance of the meet at 1 ¼ miles on Cushion Track on July 10.
“He worked an easy six furlongs yesterday (in 1:17.20),” said trainer Ron Ellis Thursday of the 5-year-old gelding. “He will probably work again next Tuesday.”
Rafael Bejarano has the call back on Rail Trip, who seeks to join three-time winners Native Diver and Lava Man as the only repeat winners in the 71-year history of the prestigious race. Weights will be issued Sunday.
Compari To Compete In Hollywood Gold Cup
Compari will make his next start in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10.
© Benoit Photo
Compari, victorious in six of eight outings, will make his next start in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10, trainer Marty Jones confirmed Sunday.
Jones gave the California-bred 4-year-old gelding the green light after a seven-furlong work in 1:26.80 on Cushion Track. “He finished really nice,” said Jones.
Owned and bred by John Harris, Don Valpredo and John Nicoletti, Compari comes off a seventh-place finish in the Shoemaker Mile on turf May 31, snapping a six-race winning streak.
Awesome Gem To Run In Hollywood Gold Cup
Awesome Gem will make his next start in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10. © Benoit Photo
Awesome Gem, a 7-year-old veteran with nearly $2-million in earnings, will make his next start in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10, trainer Craig Dollase confirmed Thursday.
“That’s the plan,” said Dollase. “He’s been doing well since he got back from Lone Star Park.”
Awesome Gem, a chestnut gelding owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, finished second in his last start in the Grade III Lone Star Park Handicap May 31, his 13th runner-up finish in 35 starts. He has won six times and earned $1,974,682.
Share This Page 
Copyright © 2009 Hollywood Park. All rights reserved. Site design by Love Has No logic Design Group