Hollywood Park news and notes (12-3-08): Turf Festival recap

Sunday (11-30-08) Hollywood Park recap

Five wire jobs on a speed favoring Cushion Track surface. Turf course played fair.

Outstanding turf rider Ramon Dominguez brought home both Grade 1’s. Tyler Baze booted home a pair. Paulo Lobo saddled two winners on the card, including Kentucky Derby also-ran Gayego, who appears headed to the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita on Dec. 26th.

Chilean bred Cocoa Beach, runner up to Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, ran down Robert Frankel’s lone speedster Precious Kitten in the grassy flat mile Matriarch (G1). Frankel also landed the show with Visit-GB.

Court Vision (YouTube replay below) stormed from the back of the pack to land the Hollywood Derby (G1) for Bill Mott. Place finisher Cowboy Cal handles turf/synthetic and is expected to contest the Strub Series at Santa Anita this winter. Frankel picked up another minor award with Midships.

Wednesday (12-03-08) Hollywood Park preview

Wednesday’s 8-race card features a pair of allowance turf routes.

My racingonthenet free selection is the 6th race from Hollywood.

My MySpace free selection of the day is the 8th race from Hollywood Park.

The 4th race, the 1st of two allowance turf routes, is featured below.

Hollywood Park race 4 (Alw-50k, 3up, 8.5T)

(1) Black Astor (5-1) – Speed to compliment nice inside draw.

(2) Porto Santo (5-1) – Cannot find last win. Will be running late.

(3) Band of Thunder (7-2) – Win type tries a route of ground and is bred to handle it.

(4) Men’s Magazine (3-1) – Classy Italian transplant needed even US bow.

(5) Epic Power (5-1) – Gritty 7yo gelding is 0-8 this year.

(6) Liberian Freighter (5-2) – The now horse will make his presence felt throughout.

Analysis: Liberian Freighter is on top of his game for Drysdale, and the imposing 3yo gelding is 3-4 at this course and distance. Flores has options with the speedy son of Bertrando, as he can watch the race unfold from his outside post. Men’s Magazine was sensational in 2006, but he has only started once since. Band of Thunder likes to win races and will be tested for stamina today.

The $20 Play:
$20 to win Liberian Freighter

Daily Wager recap

Sunday (11-30-08): Talkin To Mom Roo could not overcome a less than ideal trip from the inside post and had to settle for the place behind classy controlling speed Gayego.

Overall: (-91) through 25 days of the Hollywood Park fall meet.