Hollywood Notebook - 11/18

HOLLYWOOD

NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 18

by Bernard T. Moore

Week two of the Hollywood Park fall meet is now in the books

and was brought to a successful close this past weekend with a

pair of California-bred stakes races.

On Saturday, the On Trust H. for three year olds and up was run at the tricky 7 1/2-furlong distance. It

was an extremely contentious race on paper, with Areyoutalkintome

(Smokester) enjoying lukewarm favoritism. However, it would be ANZIYAN ROYALTY (Anziyan) that would carry the day as the 5-2

second choice.

Stalking a brisk pace while outside of rivals down the

backstretch, Anziyan Royalty moved up to engage the pacesetters on

the far turn. He then out-finished Lava Man (Slew City Slew) in

the stretch to register a hard-fought, one-length victory. The

pair distanced themselves from the field in the stretch, battling

heads apart to the wire before Anziyan Royalty edged

away late. Lava Man was gallant in defeat, finishing five lengths

in front of Jack's Silver (Soft Gold [Brz]) for second money

after dueling for the lead from the outset.

The Craig Dollase-trained winner is a perfect four-for-four at

Hollywood Park and recorded his first stakes success in the On

Trust with jockey David Flores aboard. Areyoutalkintome never

reached serious contention and finished fourth.

California-bred fillies and mares took center stage on Sunday

in the Cat's Cradle H., the sister race to the On Trust. In the

Cat's Cradle, the prohibitive favorite was ROYALLY CHOSEN (In

Excess [Ire]), and handicappers were right on the mark as she

dominated five rivals to win by a facile three-length margin.

Ridden by Flores, who captured his second stakes of the

weekend, the Bruce Headley-trained mare attended the pace from

the start, before asserting her superiority in the stretch,

eclipsing the prior Cat's Cradle stakes record from last year.

Cyber Slew (Siberian Summer) was a part of the early pace

scenario, but could not match strides with the winner, and nosed

out Tucked Away (Unusual Heat) for second, as those two rivals

staged their own private match race for place in the stretch.

The main track appeared bias free on Wednesday and Friday.

However, runners with early speed absolutely held an edge on

Thursday and over the weekend. There was no discernible bias on

the turf all week, and no particular path bias was apparent as

well.

Doug O'Neill continues to lead all trainers with six

victories, while Bob Baffert, Mike Harrington, Mike Mitchell and

John Sadler are all tied for second with four victories apiece. Half of

O'Neill's wins have come on turf, and he leads all trainers in

the category. Conversely, all four of Mike Harrington's wins have

been in dirt sprints.

Jockeys Rene Douglas and Victor Espinoza share the top spot

for leading rider with nine wins apiece. Flores, Tyler Baze,

Felipe Martinez and Corey Nakatani are bunched together with

eight victories each in second. Nakatani is "king"

when it comes to grass, as six of his eight wins have come over

the inner course. Thus far this has been a break out meet for

Martinez, as he trails Nakatani in grass wins, showing six

successes to his credit.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (11/10)

2ND - ORANGE 'EM (West By West) showed vast improvement making

his first start for trainer Michael Pender. He broke a bit awkwardly

leaving the gate and then recovered to go head and head for the

lead vs. a dropdown winning favorite. Finishing with interest

despite drifting a bit in the stretch, he was clearly second best. The

five-year-old fits very well at seven furlongs and the $12,500 claiming level.

3RD - The third-place finish of LAMBAMTA BABE (Skywalker) was

much better than appears on paper. He was hindered by rather soft

fractions while returning from the shelf for trainer Bobby

Frankel and found it difficult to reduce his deficit late as the

pace quickened noticeably while he was pinned down along the

inside in the stretch. The five-year-old gelding would benefit by

a more honest pace scenario on the front end and may prefer to

run outside of horses as well.

Thursday (11/11)

2ND - PRIVATE CHEF (Partner's Hero) finished a creditable

third making first start off a prolonged layoff for trainer John

Sheriffs. He changed his normal running style when dictating the

early pace in his well bet return and held well until deep

stretch, where his rustiness began to show. The four-year-old

surrendered the place in the final strides, but he gained

valuable fitness and should be very dangerous next time while

probably reverting to rating tactics.

4TH - RESPLENDENCY (Tale of the Cat) direly needed this race

returning from the shelf for trainer Baffert. She was forced to

race along the inside, which she did not seem to like, but still

finished with interest late, galloping out well past the wire.

The sophomore miss may ultimately be better suited to a route of

ground.

Friday (11/12)

4TH - QUE BORGES (Arg) (Johnny's Prospect) turned in a sharp

second-place performance off a short freshening for trainer A. C.

Avila, a live outfit at the current Hollywood Park meet. The five-year-old

gelding, who was returning to the level from which he was

claimed, attended the pace down the backstretch and responded

gamely when hooked by the odds-on favorite on the far turn. Que

Borges battled gamely to the wire and may prove tougher next time.

He fits best at the $10,000 claiming level and distances up to a

mile.

8TH - IMATOWERTOO (Emerald Jig) outran his long odds in his

Hollywood Park debut while returning to a sprint. He reduced his

deficit in the stretch only to be compromised by weak handling

while attempting to drift in a bit.

Saturday (11/13)

6TH - DOMINGO JUAN (Arg) (Halo Sunshine) dispensed a good

effort reverting to rating tactics. He relaxed nicely off the

pace down the backstretch, but was caught in heavy traffic behind

horses attempting to rally on the turn and again in the stretch. The

six-year-old flew home for second when finally clear in the stretch.

8TH - JACK'S SILVER (Soft Gold [Brz]) was overmatched against

the likes of Anziyan Royalty and Lava Man, more accomplished

runners in this Cal-bred stakes, and he wasn't helped by the fact

that he was allowed to lag far behind early. He finished with good

energy for third against a fast final fraction. Jack's Silver

would definitely benefit by some class relief, and is eligible

for much softer company.

9TH - THUNDER MAKER (Thunder Gulch) ran "sneaky well"

in his debut. He hopped into the air at the start, costing him

about a length, and was not asked for much run down the

backstretch. The juvenile found his best stride entering the stretch, but then

had to be carefully handled when bothered by a drifting out rival. He closed well late between horses for third.

Sunday (11/14)

1ST - CRYPTOS' BEST (Cryptoclearance) ran well late for third vs.

a speed conducive course off a prolonged layoff. The bay miss should have

derived beneficial conditioning from this effort and is expected

to move forward off her initial Hollywood Park experience.