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HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK JUNE 11, 2010 by John Mucciolo A trio of graded events led the way at Hollywood Park last week. Charles Whittingham Memorial S. (G1): E.W. and Judy Johnston's ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat) led at every call en route to bagging his first Grade 1 race for trainer Donald Warren. The California-bred colt endured 1 1/4 grassy miles in a solid 1:59 2/5 with Christian Santiago Reyes. Hollywood Oaks (G2): C R K Stable's SWITCH (Quiet American) got first run and proved strongest late in posting the mild upset over Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) in this affair for conditioner John Sadler. The consistently good sophomore stopped the teletimer in 1:44 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles on the main strip beneath Martin Garcia. Los Angeles H. (G3): Barber's COST OF FREEDOM (Cee's Tizzy) continues his ascension to the top of the sprint ranks out west with a commanding score in this one for Sadler. The fleet seven-year-old finished up six furlongs on the Cushion in a snappy 1:08 3/5 under the guidance of Tyler Baze. Track Stats From a total of 28 races held over the Inglewood racetrack during the three-day race week, favorites won at a 29 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 68 percent of the wins. From 19 frays contested on the Cushion oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (32 percent), while three of the nine grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (33 percent). Saturday yielded three wire jobs on the grass from our races, while no one led at every call on the lawn on Friday or Sunday. We thought the main oval played quite fair, with horses winning from up close and well back. The innermost three post positions accounted for 10 of the 19 wins throughout the week, but that nothing to do with an inside bias in our estimation. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Friday (6/4) 7TH -- SWEET HANNI (Northern Afleet) ran off her second straight win with a game performance late beneath Joel Rosario. The Vladimir Cerin-trained sophomore lass complete her final quarter-mile in a sharp :22 4/5 in this dash. Saturday (6/5) 3RD -- KANAN DUME (Malibu Moon) showed vast improvement for conditioner Doug O'Neill in taking this bunch all the way on the front in a fairly easy score under Victor Espinoza. We've never been that high on the gelding, but the barn switch and change of tactics might have him going in the right direction. 5TH -- SAINT ISABELLE (Saint Liam) ran second to a useful filly in here in a sharp showing for conditioner Mike Puype. Considering the filly hadn't started since the summer at Del Mar, we'd figure that she will improve and break her maiden very soon. 10TH -- Acclamation didn't steal this race as much as he earned it while running some sharp internal splits en route to his biggest score to date. The four-year-old has never been better and is clearly a major force in the turf ranks in Southern California. Sunday (6/6) 1ST -- CAYANNA (Cayoke [Fr]) was more than four lengths clear in second in this one for trainer Michael Machowsky, and the juvenile filly will graduate soon with a similar showing. 2ND -- ALL DUE RESPECT (Value Plus) had kept some fine company as of late and proved that she belonged with the better sophomore fillies on the grounds with a resounding, 10 1/4-length allowance win in this one under pilot Mike Smith. The talented Kentucky-bred will be back with graded foes soon for trainer Kathy Walsh. 7TH -- METEORE (Pulpit) put in a solid run while tiring a bit late in his first start of this campaign for Richard Mandella, and the four-year-old should be a solid performer this season with any improvement. A Look Ahead The $250,000 Vanity H. (G1), which will attract unbeaten champion Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]), is the Sunday centerpiece, while the $150,000 Californian S. (G2) leads the way on Saturday.
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