Frankel sends out two in Hollywood Turf Cup; Ravel returns in Native Diver

Frankel sends out two in Hollywood Turf Cup; Ravel returns

in Native Diver

Trainer Bobby Frankel will saddle two of the eight runners in the 1 1/2-mile,

$250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (G1), which is one of two graded events set for

Saturday at Hollywood Park. The $100,000 Native Diver H. (G3) will feature a

well-matched field of 10 going 1 1/8 miles on the Cushion Track four races after

the Hollywood Turf Cup.

Frankel's HEROI DO BAFRA (Brz) (Royal Academy) made his U.S. debut on New

Year's Day, finishing second by a length in a mile turf allowance/optional

claimer at Santa Anita. He returned just 20 days later to post a fourth in the

San Marcos S. (G2), then took a short break before showing up in a late March

allowance at Santa Anita, where he just missed when third by a head. The

five-year-old wasn't seen in competition again for seven months, but put in

another close decision when reappearing in the Seabiscuit H. on November 3 at

Bay Meadows, running second by a neck. The extra distance in this one could be

what the dark bay needs to get earn his first U.S. victory.

CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill), a Group 3 winner in France, will try to do

one better than his stablemate by earning his initial U.S. score in his first

try. The four-year-old came to Frankel's barn after a runner-up finish in the

Gran Premio del Jockey Club (Ity-G1) in Italy for Andre Fabre, and has been

working well in preparation for his first start stateside. Frenchman

Julian Leparoux will guide the bay colt.

Sunriver could earn his biggest win to date in Saturday's Hollywood Turf Cup (Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com) Neither runner is likely to get an easy win in the Hollywood Turf Cup. SUNRIVER (Saint Ballado) has made steady upward progress in the turf ranks since capturing an allowance/optional claimer at Belmont Park in early June. Next out, the Todd Pletcher charge added the Bowling Green H. (G2) to his record and was just a length back in fourth when taking on some of the world's best in the Arlington Million (G1). A head second in the Man o' War S. (G1) and a close sixth last out in the Canadian International (Can-G1) may have set up the four-year-old for a big run here under Garrett Gomez. Other contenders include Grade 3 victor SPRING HOUSE (Chester House) and SUDAN (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), who captured the Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-G1) in mid-June. The complete field, with riders, is OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique), Joseph Talamo; Champs Elysees; Sunriver; TISSY FIT (Lasting Approval), Clinton Potts; Heroi do Bafra, Rafael Bejarano; CHIEF RUNNING BEAR (Fusaichi Pegasus), Corey Nakatani; Spring House, Tyler Baze; and Sudan, Patrick Valenzuela. Each starter will carry 126 pounds.

RAVEL (Fusaichi Pegasus), who was considered one of the top three-year-olds

earlier this year before being sidelined, will face nine rivals in a deep and

contentious renewal of the Native Diver. The Pletcher-trained

colt won the Sham S. (G3) in his third career start and recently returned to

action with a resounding five-length victory against second-level allowance foes

at Keeneland. Gomez, who is a perfect three-for-three aboard Ravel, retains the

mount.

Strub S. (G2) winner ARSON SQUAD (Brahms), who exits a seventh and fourth in

the Goodwood S. (G1) and Pacific Classic (G1), respectively, is a

primary contender in the 1 1/8-mile Native Diver. The Bruce Headley trainee will

carry co-highweight of 120 pounds, including jockey Alex Solis.

Other contenders include 2005 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner BUZZARDS BAY

(Marco Bay), a disappointing seventh as the 7-5 favorite in the All American S.

(G3) at Golden Gate Fields last out; ISIPINGO (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), second in

the Carleton F. Burke H. (G3) and third in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf

Championship S. (G1) in his last two starts; and BOLD CHIEFTAIN (Chief Seattle),

who comes off a solid victory in the California Cup Classic H.

The field, from the inside out, with jockeys and weights, consists of Ravel,

116; HELLO SUNDAY (Fr) (Poliglote [GB]), Leparoux, 116; Arson Squad;

Buzzards Bay, Jose Valdivia Jr., 120; Isipingo, Aaron Gryder, 116; WANNA RUNNER

(El Corredor), Baze, 116; MASTERPIECE (Arg) (Southern Halo), Alonso

Quinonez, 115; RACKETEER (Awesome Again), Bejarano, 114; HEATSEEKER (Ire)

(Giant's Causeway), Michael Baze, 115; and Bold Chieftain, Russell Baze, 118.