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HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK NOVEMBER 14, 2008 by John Mucciolo A pair of stakes races was the centerpiece of the week at Hollywood Park. Hermosa Beach S.: Christopher Wright's HIGH HEEL SNEAKERS (GB) (Dansili [GB]) was always well-placed under Victor Espinoza and drew off like a good thing in taking this one as the favorite for Ben Cecil, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. The five-year-old mare reached the wire in 2:28 2/5 for 1 1/2 miles on the lawn. Real Quiet S.: Sid and Jenny Craig's homebred CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) finished with excellent ability to draw off in here for Jerry Hollendorfer, stopping the teletimer in 1:42 1/5 for 1 1/16 miles. The rapidly improving juvenile colt didn't top the deepest field, but he earned a career-best BRIS Speed rating and seems well-positioned for a run toward the Santa Anita Derby (G1) next spring. Track Stats From a total of 43 races held over the Inglewood racetrack during the week, favorites won at a 35 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 46 percent of the wins. From 32 frays contested on the vast main oval, five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (15 percent), while just one of the 11 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (9 percent). The main surface was ridiculously fast over the past week, with bottom-level runners shading 1:10 in many of the six-furlong sprints. There was no particular bias in my opinion that led to this, but giving up ground over the main track was not as detrimental as it was in the first week. Outside posts had a big edge in midweek (Thursday and Friday), while those breaking from posts 1-6 dominated over Saturday and Sunday, taking 16 of the 19 heats. Meet Totals
Post Positions (wins)
HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (11/5) 3RD -- FIRE BREAK (Petionville) disappointed in here while finishing fifth as the favorite, but the three-year-old was only two lengths shy of the win and could offer good value in his return. 7TH -- A LITTLE DUMAANI (Dumaani) was well backed and deservedly so, as the sophomore topped a solid field in here for Doug O'Neill. The gelding smoked six panels in a speedy 1:08 and appears to be headed in the right direction. Thursday (11/6) 1ST -- We were surprised that TIMIAS (Seeking the Gold) was not claimed out of here, as the in-form John Sadler trainee looked looks like he has really moved up on the synthetic since the summer. The easy winner rallied from last to win going away, just missing the track mark over the lightning-fast oval. 2ND -- LADY LUMBERJACK (Forestry) showed courage and ability in finishing a strong second to an odds-on winner for conditioner Julio Canani. The debuting miss is surely one to watch in her return. 7TH -- MAJESTIC DIAMOND (NZ) (Diamond Express) put in a superb account of himself with the upset in here for Leonard Powell, outkicking a solid runner from the Bobby Frankel barn. The winner in here was brave late in between foes and should be a square price in his return. Friday (11/7) 3RD -- RAIL TRIP (Jump Start) got just that in a smart debut for Ron Ellis, leading at every call to win at will. The sophomore blazed three-quarters in 1:07 4/5 over the speedway, getting his final quarter-mile in :12 flat. Saturday (11/8) 1ST -- PRECIOUS UNION (Dixie Union) had no chance with her stablemate winner in here, but the filly finished well to be a strong second for Richard Mandella. The three-year-old should win soon. 3RD -- GREEN LYONS (Ire) (Green Desert) found this field much more comfortable than her last, and offered good value in taking this one for Neil Drysdale. The four-year-old filly upended a decent cast and came home in :22 4/5 for her final two panels. 4TH -- It's been a long time since we've seen LIQUIDITY (Tiznow), and the four-year-old was obviously a bit rusty in here for Doug O'Neill. The talented colt should move way up off this try, especially with added ground to negotiate with. 7TH -- POSITION A (Aldebaran) ran in spurts in his first showing for Mandella, but the future looks very bright for the juvenile colt. We have a strong hunch that this one will be on the stakes scene as a sophomore. A Look Ahead Fillies will have the spotlight in the upcoming weekend, in the $65,000 Audrey Kenis S. for sophomores on Saturday and Sunday's $100,000 Moccasin S. for freshmen fillies.
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