Derby and Matriarch close out Autumn Turf Festival

Derby and Matriarch close out Autumn

Turf Festival

Ticker Tape will try for her third Grade 1 in the Matriarch  (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) The $500,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) and $500,000 Matriarch S. (G1) complete a quality three-day weekend of turf racing in Inglewood, California, with two highly competitive fields. The Matriarch has attracted an outstanding group of nine fillies, ages three and four, for one mile over the sod, while 13 well-matched sophomores, including many imports from Europe, will test 10 grassy furlongs in the Derby. TICKER TAPE (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) has moved to the fore of the three-year-old filly turf ranks with victories in the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1), American Invitational Oaks (G1) and Pucker Up S. (G2) this season and could prove formidable in her debut against older rivals. Victor Espinoza replaces Kent Desormeaux in the saddle for trainer James Cassidy. Desormeaux has chosen to ride the four-year-old MUSICAL CHIMES (In Excess [Ire]), who looks tough to beat on Sunday. Winner of the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup S. (G2) over males two back, the Neil Drysdale-trained dark bay finished a good sixth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) last out and relishes eight furlongs. The Grade 1 heroine finished a close second in this event to multiple Grade 1 winner Heat Haze (GB) last year.

Another Matriarch entrant of quality is OCEAN DRIVE (Belong to

Me), who reeled off consecutive wins in the Ballston Spa

Breeders' Cup H. (G3) and Noble Damsel H. (G3) prior to a third-place

finish in her last start. John Velazquez has the mount on the

Todd Pletcher invader. Grade 2 queen INTERCONTINENTAL (GB) (Danehill)

will have the services of Jerry Bailey and owns a 3-1-0 mark from

four starts this year when the turf is firm.

The complete Matriarch field, from the rail with riders, is

HOH BUZZARD (Ire) (Alhaarth), David Flores; QUERO QUERO (Royal

Academy), Corey Nakatani; DENEBOLA (Storm Cat), Gary Stevens;

Intercontinental; Ocean Drive; Ticker Tape; Musical Chimes;

ISLAND FASHION (Petionville), Tyler Baze; and ETOILE MONTANTE (Miswaki),

Edgar Prado.

Three-year-olds Denebola and Ticker Tape will carry 120

pounds, the rest 123.

Del Mar Derby (G2) and La Jolla H. (G2) winner BLACKDOUN (Fr)

(Verglas [Ire]), who was beaten only 3 1/2 lengths when seventh

in the Breeders' Cup Mile last out, highlights the baker's dozen

in the Hollywood Derby. The Julio Canani trainee reeled off three

straight stakes wins at Del Mar before suffering his first U.S.

loss last time and will seek to rebound with regular rider Corey

Nakatani in the irons.

GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat), winner of the Storm Cat S. at

Keeneland in most recent outing, ships west for trainer Shug

McGaughey and will be ridden by Bailey. Kentucky Derby (G1) third-place

finisher IMPERIALISM (Langfuhr) is stakes-placed on the turf and

merits respect from the far outside post with Desormeaux.

Grade 2-placed HENDRIX (Sultry Song) will lead the post parade

with Flores and be followed by BIG SQUEEZE (Petionville), Jon

Court; Blackdoun; WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan), Felipe Martinez; Good

Reward; TIMO (El Prado [Ire]), Velazquez; TERROPLANE (Fr) (Verglas

[Ire]), Rene Douglas; ON THE ACORN (GB) (Inchinor [GB]), Garrett

Gomez; FIGHT CLUB (Ger) (Lavirco), Baze; JOURSANVAULT (Fr) (Verglas

[Ire]), Jose Valdivia Jr.; FAST AND FURIOUS (Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]),

Espinoza; LAURA'S LUCKY BOY (Theatrical [Ire]), Stevens; and

Imperialism.

All starters will tote 122 pounds.