Notes on the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) Program
June 29th, 2007By Jude T. Feld
This afternoon’s best racing is at “the track of the lakes and flowers†– Hollywood Park. How often do two geriatric Thoroughbreds go favored in graded races on the same card? Don’t miss the American Handicap (G2) and the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). Some excellent two-year-old racing is on tap too.
NATIVITY PREP in HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 2ND RACE is highly regarded by his connections. The private clockers have also been buzzing about the way he is training in the morning. The son of Proud Citizen should be live at first-asking.
HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 3RD RACE is an allowance race on the turf. Local horse UFFIZI, named for an art museum in Florence, Italy, makes his debut for trainer Mike Mitchell. He has been knocking on the door at this condition and if Mitchell can get him to run like Sun Boat did in the Californian (G2) it should be all over but the shouting.
Who picks against THE TIN MAN in HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 5TH RACE? Not even the great and powerful Wizard of Oz can help the American Handicap (G2) field against the nine-year-old with a ton of heart.
The Landaluce Stakes is HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 7TH RACE. Trainer Steve Asmussen has a great record when he ships to the West Coast. He saddles ELOCUTION, a filly who broke her maiden first time out and then returned to run a 100 Brisnet speed figure in an allowance race at Churchill Downs. Having jockey David Flores in the saddle certainly enhances her chances.
The magnificent nine-year-old LAVA MAN goes for his third straight Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and is hard to pick against in HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 10TH RACE. If any one can beat him, MOLENGAO looks like the one. His trainer, Paulo Lobo, knows how to win big races and the Brazil-bred son of Royal Academy is in top form right now.
