Frankel double-handed for Matriarch; Court Vision, Gio Ponti resume rivalry

Frankel double-handed for Matriarch; Court Vision, Gio

Ponti resume rivalry

Hollywood Park's 17th Turf Festival concludes with a pair of $500,000 events

on Sunday, the one-mile

Matriarch S. (G1) for distaffers and the 1 1/4-mile

Hollywood

Derby (G1) for sophomores. Each holds plenty of intrigue. Trainer Bobby

Frankel, who has compiled an unprecedented four straight wins in the Matriarch,

will try for a fifth with defending champion PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) and

Juddmonte Farms homebred VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]), while the Hollywood

Derby will be the rubber match for archrivals COURT VISION (Gulch) and GIO PONTI

(Tale of the Cat).

Precious Kitten has won only one of five starts following her 2007 Matriarch

score, when taking the Gamely S. (G1) in smashing style at Hollywood on Memorial

Day. The $1.8 million earner has turned in a few fine efforts, however, in

defeat. Runner-up to presumptive champion turf female Forever Together (Belong

to Me) in the First Lady S. (G1) at Keeneland, Precious Kitten was most recently

a solid fourth versus males in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Regular rider Rafael

Bejarano will guide the dark bay from post 3.

Visit, a multiple Group 3 winner in England, was an eye-catching fourth when

making her U.S. debut in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

The three-year-old figures to enjoy cutting back to a mile here in her first

outing for Frankel. Garrett Gomez picks up the mount.

Godolphin will look to end Frankel's domination in the Matriarch with COCOA

BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court). Successful in her lone turf start in her native

Chile, the dark bay was a star on the dirt at the Dubai International Racing

Carnival prior to coming to the United States. Cocoa Beach upset Eclipse Award

winner Ginger Punch in the Beldame S. (G1), and she is exiting a terrific second

to presumptive champion Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Breeders' Cup Ladies'

Classic (G1) on Pro-Ride. Ramon Dominguez will be back aboard.

The Matriarch has also attracted the top two from the recent Las Palmas H.

(G2), ROSHANI (Fantastic Light) and ROSINKA (Ire) (Soviet Star), respectively;

BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) and I CAN SEE (Flying Chevron), the

respective winner and runner-up from the John C. Mabee H. (G1) at Del Mar;

sophomore MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]), who scored her biggest career victory

in the Del Mar Oaks (G1); and multiple Grade 3 heroine CRIMINOLOGIST (Maria's

Mon).

In the Hollywood Derby, Court Vision and Gio Ponti will clash for the third

time. The Christophe Clement-trained Gio Ponti prevailed by a nose in their

first meeting in the Virginia Derby (G2), but the Bill Mott-trained Court Vision

turned the tables by three-quarters of a length in the Jamaica H. (G2) on

rain-affected turf at Belmont Park. Gio Ponti will hope that the Hollywood turf

will revert to its typically firm condition following recent rains in Southern

California. Dominguez sticks with Court Vision, while Gomez will renew

acquaintance with Gio Ponti for the first time since he was upset as the 4-5

choice in the Del Mar Derby (G2).

MADEO (Mizzen Mast), who got the better of Gio Ponti in the Del Mar Derby,

comes off a troubled second to the pacesetting MUNY (Najran) in the Oak Tree

Derby (G2). DIXIE CHATTER (Dixie Union), winner of the 2007 Norfolk S. (G1), is

eligible to move forward off his close third in the Oak Tree Derby for Richard

Mandella. Other contenders include Tropical Park Derby (G3) hero COWBOY CAL

(Giant's Causeway), who was awarded the victory via disqualification in the

Bryan Station S. (G3) last time out; Colonial Turf Cup (G3) romper SAILOR'S CAP

(Distant View), third to Gio Ponti and Court Vision in the Virginia Derby two

back; French stakes scorer ALBAHRI (Fr) (Bahri), the first runner for trainer

Patrick Biancone since returning from his year-long suspension; and fellow U.S.

debuter MIDSHIPS (Mizzen Mast), a Juddmonte Farms homebred now with Frankel.