Hollywood Turf Festival Shaping Up
November 20th, 2007Samyn To Ride Bold Hawk In Hollywood Derby
Trainer Jim Toner confirmed from New York Sunday that Bold Hawk, a fast-developing 3-year-old gelding, would be shipped west Tuesday to run in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby, a Grade I test at 1 ¼ miles on turf next Sunday.
“He just worked five-eighths in 1:03 on the training track Friday, a little maintenance work,” said Toner of the Kentucky-bred son of Silver Hawk. “He’s a big lumbering horse. I thought it would take time for him to come around but he came around quicker than I thought.”
Bold Hawk won the Grade III Hawthorne Derby by a head over Twilight Meteor in his last start on Oct. 13 for his third victory in five starts, all on grass.
Veteran rider Jean-Luc Samyn, who has been aboard in all of his starts, will make a rare West Coast appearance. Like Chilean-born Fernando Toro, who was nicknamed “Toro on the Turf” in California during his career, the French-born Samyn has been called “Samyn on the Green” in New York for his turf prowess.
Samyn, 51, swept the Will Rogers Stakes and Cinema Handicap on Give Me Strength on the Hollywood Park turf in 1982 and won his last stake here with Geraldine’s Store in the 1983 Dahlia Handicap. He finished seventh in the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Turf here aboard Ops Smile.
Toner said assistant Dana Antonczak will accompany Bold Hawk west and he will be here to saddle the horse for the Hollywood Derby.
A field of 11 is probable: Augment (Richard Migliore), Bold Hawk (Samyn), Daytona (Mike Smith), Medici Code (Martin Pedroza), Mostacolli Mort (Tyler Baze), Nobiz Like Shobiz (Javier Castellano), Patch of Blue (Alex Solis), Ten a Penny (Michael Baze), Twilight Meteor (Garrett Gomez), Warning Zone (Jose Valdivia, Jr.) and Worldly (Victor Espinoza).
Ten a Penny, runner-up in the Oak Tree Derby in his last start and a stakes winner at 1 ¼ miles in England, worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:02.40 on turf here Sunday for trainer Craig Dollase.
Three other nominees were removed from consideration. Trainer Julio Canani, recovering from eye surgery for a detached retina, said Stoneside would pass to concentrate on mile distances. Trainer Barry Abrams said Unusual Suspect would be entered in the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express Handicap at six furlongs Saturday. Trainer Mike Puype said Wing Forward would probably look for an easier spot.
CLEMENT TO RUN PAIR IN MATRIARCH
Trainer Christophe Clement said Sunday from New York that he would probably start Vacare and Naissance Royale in the $500,000 Matriarch, a Grade I test for fillies and mares at one mile on grass here next Sunday.
“Vacare is a top-class filly, and I loved her last race,” said Clement. “I loved Naissance Royale’s last race too, and she deserves a chance to win a Grade I.”
Vacare, a 4-year-old filly owned by Jon and Sarah Kelly of Rancho Santa Fe, comes off a half-length victory in the Grade II First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 6. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Lear Fan won the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last year and finished third in the Grade I Gamely Stakes here in May.
Naissance Royale comes off an impressive victory in the Grade II Las Palmas Handicap at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 and was supplemented for $10,000. The well-traveled 5-year-old mare began her career in France before joining the Clement stable in 2005.
Meribel, a third Clement trainee nominated for The Matriarch, worked four furlongs in :47.80 on Cushion Track Sunday but will probably wait for the $150,000 Dahlia Handicap on Dec. 16.
A field of at least six appears set for The Matriarch: Vacare (Corey Nakatani), Naissance Royale (Jose Valdivia, Jr.), Dance Away Capote (Alan Garcia), Lady of Venice (Julien Leparoux), Precious Kitten (Rafael Bejarano), and Wait a While (Garrett Gomez).
Trainer Bobby Frankel, who seeks a record fourth straight Matriarch victory with Precious Kitten, said he would breeze stablemate Citronnade Monday before deciding on whether the Grade I stakes winner would also be entered. Black Mamba is also considered a possibility.
CRESTED JOINS CITATION LINEUP
Trainer Wally Dollase will seek a record fifth victory in the Citation Handicap Friday with Crested in the $400,000, Grade I stake at 1 1/16 miles on grass.
Jockey Michael Baze has taken a call on the English-bred 4-year-old gelding, fourth in the 2006 Hollywood Derby and most recently second in the Carey Memorial Handicap at Hawthorne Park, beaten by a nose on Sept. 29.
Dollase is tied with Charlie Whittingham for the most Citation victories, four. Dollase won with Southern Wish in 1994, Military in 1998 and Good Journey in 2001 and 2002.
A field of eight is probable for the Citation: Crested (Michael Baze), Independent George (Corey Nakatani), Palace Episode (Jose Valdivia, Jr.), Proudinsky (Rafael Bejarano), Silent Name (no rider), Visa Parade (no rider), Willow O Wisp (Martin Garcia) and Zann (Garrett Gomez).
RACE THE MOON TO MAKE U.S. DEBUT IN GENEROUS
Race the Moon, a recent arrival from England in the Joe Herrick stable, is scheduled to make his United States debut in the $100,000 Generous Stakes for 2-year-olds at one mile on Friday, Herrick said Sunday.
“He got here Wednesday and cleared quarantine Friday,” said Herrick. “Richard Duggan (a bloodstock agent) brought him over. He will work with Mike Smith Tuesday.” Herrick was impressed with the Irish-bred colt’s last race, a two-length come-from-behind victory at Wolverhampton at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 12. “He came up the rail from 12 lengths back,” said Herrick.
A field of at least eight is probable: Pilgrim Stakes winner The Leopard (Garrett Gomez), Pinjara Stakes winner Yes It’s A Cat (Martin Pedroza), Coastal Eddy (Jose Valdivia, Jr.), Gone Grand (David Flores), Make Them Break (Corey Nakatani), Meer Kat (Victor Espinoza), Race the Moon (Smith), and Robscarvic (Brice Blanc).
Other possible starters include Adriano and Spinning Sound. Robscarvic and Spinning Sound each worked five furlongs on turf here Sunday for trainer Paddy Gallagher.
LA MINA READY FOR MIESQUE
La Mina, winner of the Hidden Lite Stakes and unbeaten in two grass starts, will face her toughest competition Saturday in the $100,000 Miesque Stakes, a Grade III test for 2-year-old fillies at one mile on turf.
“She’s doing great,” said trainer Mike Mitchell of the Mineshaft filly, who worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Cushion Track Saturday.
La Mina seemed to discover a new lease on life on grass after five straight defeats on the main track. “I thought she would like the grass,” said Mitchell. “It was not so much about the pedigree, but she appeared to be intimidated when dirt hit her in the face.”
La Mina is expected to face Del Mar Debutante winner Set Play, Epitome Stakes winner Sea Chanter, California Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes winner Runforthemoneybaby and Hidden Lite runner-up Ididntmeantoo in the Miesque.
Probable starters include: English import Excitement (Victor Espinoza), French import Macyella (Brice Blanc), Ididntmeantoo (Patrick Valenzuela), La Mina (Michael Baze), Runforthemoneybaby (Tyler Baze), Sea Chanter (no rider) and Set Play (Corey Nakatani).
Trainer Jeff Mullins, who will send out Runforthemoneybaby, worked Sweeter Still, a second nominee who recently joined his barn from Ireland, four furlongs in 50 seconds on the turf Sunday.
Another European invader nominated is Carnival Queen, an English import in the stable of Paddy Gallagher, who won the Miesque last year with Valbenny.
CLEMENT, HOFMANS MAY EACH START PAIR IN TURF EXPRESS
In Summation and Moth Ball, second and third-place finishers respectively in the Hollywood Turf Express last year, are expected to be leading contenders in the $150,000, Grade III test at six furlongs Saturday.
Trainer Christophe Clement said from New York that he planned to enter both In Summation and Quietly Mine in the grass sprint. In Summation and Fast Parade were co-high weighted at 122 pounds.
Trainer David Hofmans said both Council Member and Desert Code were probable entrants after working the pair six furlongs each on the turf here Sunday morning.
Hofmans said Council Member, a 5-year-old gelding, recently joined his stable after being sent here from New York by owners Karen and Mickey Taylor. He finished third in the Sport Page Handicap at Aqueduct on Oct. 27.
A field of 11 is under consideration: Fast Parade, Patrick Valenzuela, 122; In Summation, no rider, 122; Get Funky, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 120; Night Chapter, Brice Blanc, 118; T.D. Vance, Victor Espinoza, 118; Bonfante, no rider, 117; Council Member, no rider, 116; Desert Code, Aaron Gryder, 116; Quietly Mine, Corey Nakatani, 116; Moth Ball, Mike Smith, 114; and Unusual Suspect, no rider, 114.
