Hollywood Park news and notes (12-6-08): Native Diver, Hollywood Turf Cup
December 5, 2008 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Breeding, California Racing, Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Synthetic Tracks, Trainers
Friday (12-05-08) Hollywood Park recap
Early/pressing types dominated on Cushion Track. Turf course played fair.
A pair of wins for hustling jockey Clinton Potts.
Banner Lodge (Mike Smith/John Sadler) pulled off a sharp wire job over rallying Mike Mitchell returnee Valid Mecke (troubled start) in the turf sprint feature.
Saturday (12-06-08) Hollywood Park preview
Saturday’s 9-race card features a pair of graded stakes, the Native Diver Handicap (G3), and the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1). Note that I have included a YouTube replay (Secretariat Stakes) of Hollywood Turf Cup contender Winchester.
The 5th race, a claiming turf route, is featured below.
Hollywood Park race 5 (Clm-32k, 3up, 8.5T)
(1) Fight On (3-1) – Inside speed might not look back.
(2) New Export (5-2) – 7yo horse off his game in most recent pair.
(3) Dadsalittleunusual (2-1) – Returns to turf in 2nd start for Mike Mitchell. Unusual Heat offspring can rebound.
(4) Fire Wood (5-2) – Ron Ellis trainee 2-33 lifetime.
(5) Lightning Hit (6-1) – Ron McAnally’s 2-22 horse in winless in 2007-08.
(6) Mr. Katz (10-1) – Marty Jones takes over the training duties. Handles dirt, synthetic, and turf.
Analysis: Fight On is 0-3 on turf, but the grass breeding is present, and he looms the controlling speed from the rail under hustling rider Tyler Baze. Dadsalittleunusual should improve 2nd off the Mitchell claim, and Bejarano chose this one over Robert Frankel contender New Export.
The $20 Play:
$14 to win Fight On
$3 exacta box Fight On/Dadsalittleunusual ($6)
Daily Wager recap
Friday (12-05-08): Nailed suggested Bullya/High Intellect $8 quinella, which returned $18.40 for a deuce. Added $53.60 to the close the overall deficit.
Overall: (-57.40) through 28 days of the Hollywood Park fall meet.
