Before I delve into the Thanksgiving week comings and goings at Hollywood, let’s look back at what happened last week.
I did a recap of the Nov 18th card on a previous blog, so I’ll move on to the 19th.
Martin Garcia and Garrett Gomez both booted home a pair of winners on Thursday. Loup Breton was a good looking late running winner of the grass feature. The Julio Canani trainee was making his US bow and appears headed to the stakes ranks. Yorktown finished a troubled 4th and is worth a look next time.
Victor Espinoza rode a …read more

Pioneerof The Nile galloped over the sloppy Churchill oval on Monday, and the good looking Baffert trainee reportedly made a great impression. He is scheduled to have his first Louisville work Tuesday or Wednesday.
Giant Oak will skip the Kentucky Derby, and trainer Chris Block said he will likely run on the grass next.
Summer Bird , a rallying 3rd in the Arkansas Derby, is now 20th on the graded list. I met his trainer Tim Ice at Louisiana Downs last year, and I wish him luck on the first Saturday in May.

West Side Bernie had a touch …read more

A field of 8 has been assembled for the $750k Wood Memorial (G1), to be run at nine furlongs on April 4th at the Big A in New York.
Handy Gotham (G3) winner I Want Revenge will break from the rail and has been installed as the morning line choice. The David Lanzman/IEAH colt will be ridden once again by Joe Talamo, and a repeat of his last would be more than enough.
Gotham runner-up Imperial Council is on the improve for Shug McGaughey, and he desperately needs graded earnings. Prado has booted him home twice, …read more

The $200k San Felipe is the final major local prep for the Santa Anita Derby (April 4th), and the lone stakes winner (Pioneerof The Nile) looms a standout in the field of seven.

Pioneerof The Nile has won his last two graded synthetic routes at this distance (8.5f) since moving to the Bob Baffert barn, and today’s pilot Garrett Gomez is 2-2 with him. The son of Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker does not have to win this as he has more than enough graded earnings to make it into the Derby starting gate, but the class of the field …read more

Aqueduct’s $250k Gotham Stakes is an important two turn graded test for Derby hopefuls, and the final local prep for the $750k Wood Memorial (G1) at nine furlongs on April 4th.

Masala was clearly 2nd best behind stablemate Take the Points at the Gulf last time, and that one came back to finish a fine 2nd behind The Pamplemousse in the Sham Stakes (G3) last weekend. Todd Pletcher is 23% 2nd off a layoff, and his strong late pace fig last time bodes well for his route chances.
Imperial Council is a $130k Keeneland sales grad with the best pedigree …read more

Thursday (12-11-08) Hollywood Park recap
Edge to stalking types on Cushion Track. The lone turf race carded was won by an off the pace type.
Joel Rosario and Joe Talamo both booted home a pair.
Serra Song got the job done by a head as the even money fav in the feature race for the profitable Espinoza/Mandella team. Lucky Honey (Bejarano/Mitchell) ran too good to lose while well clear of the rest.

Friday (12-12-08) Hollywood Park preview
Friday’s 8-race card includes a trio of turf races. The optional claiming Cushion Track feature is lead by 2-1 fav Limestone Edge (Kent D/Hess).
The 4th …read more