Hollywood Notebook

HOLLYWOOD PARK NOTEBOOK

JUNE 2, 2005

by Bernard T. Moore

Racetracks across the country tend to gear up for

holiday weekends and Hollywood Park was no exception, with stakes

events carded each day over the Memorial Day weekend.

The first such contest was the Will Rogers (G3) for three-year-olds on grass

at a mile. Handicappers backed OSIDY (Storm Cat) down to 7-5 favoritism,

and he proved to be a punctual winner, albeit by only a head. Trained by Richard

Mandella, Osidy raced toward the back of the pack during the early stages of

the race before starting to improve his position around the far turn. He

continued to sustain that rally into the stretch, closing resolutely in the

final yards to have his head in front at the wire.

Willow O Wisp (Misnomer)

suffered a heartbreaking defeat while finishing second. He raced with the early

leaders virtually every step of the way prior to securing a tenuous lead in the

stretch. Unfortunately for his connections, the gelding was outfinished in deep stretch

as he unquestionably

outran his 18-1 odds. Eastern Sand (Line in the Sand), the 5-2 second

choice in the betting, finished third, 1 1/2 lengths farther behind after being caught in traffic while attempting to rally.

Osidy, homebred son of Storm Cat for B. Wayne Hughes, earned his first graded victory

and first U.S. win. Trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Alex Solis, the

bay colt improved his overall mark to 7-3-1-1.

While Saturday's feature produced a formful result, Sunday's stakes contest

did not continue that trend as the Turf Paradise shipper, KRESGEVILLE

(Bertrando), upset the field in the Manhattan Beach H. for three-year-old

fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Making her initial start on turf for new

trainer Bradley Rollins, Kresgeville immediately sped to the lead and set a

pressured pace. She continued to battled gamely on the front end into

the stretch, and simply refused to throw in the towel as Brooke's Halo (Southern

Halo), the tepid 7-2 favorite pulled alongside of her. The pair matched strides

to the wire, with Kresgeville being the most photogenic of the two, winning by a

scant nose. Private Banking (Fr) (Anabaa), the early trailer in the field of

11, closed belatedly for third.

On Memorial Day, CASTLEDALE (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) once again demonstrated

his affinity for the Hollywood Park turf course by capturing the Shoemaker

Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) for three-year-olds and up on the grass. Allowed

to relax off the pace by jockey Rene Douglas, Castledale was not asked for his

best until the field straightened for home. He responded to Douglas' urging by reeling in a stubborn King of Happiness (Spinning

World) and was slowly edging away at the wire to win by a half-length. Fast and

Furious (Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]) finished three lengths behind the runner-up, closing

for the show in the stretch. Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) hero Singletary (Sultry

Song), who finished fourth as the favorite after contesting the early pace,

failed to rally when called upon in the stretch.

Trainer Ron McAnally had reason to celebrate on Memorial Day, as

he saddled the first two finishers in the Gamely Breeders' Cup H. (G1) for

fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on turf. MEA DOMINA (Dance Brightly) made

every pole a winning one as she went wire-to-wire to score by a half-length over

stablemate Solar Echo (Spinning World). Reverting to front-running tactics by

Tyler Baze, the winner relaxed nicely on the lead despite carving out a lively

pace. She had more than enough gas left in the tank as her stablemate came running

in the stretch, eventually covering the nine furlong distance of the Gamely in a

swift 1:46.47. This was the first race over a distance of ground for the

second-place finisher since 2003, and Solar Echo acquitted herself quite well in

defeat. Amorama (Fr) (Sri Pekan) closed for the show.

Janis R. Whitham owns and bred the two finishers. With her win on Monday, Mea Domina now

counts five wins from

just six starts on grass. Her lone defeat came in the recent Wilshire H. (G3) last month, her initial start over the Hollywood Park turf course.

Doug O'Neill continues to lead Vladimir Cerin in the trainer standings.

Steve Knapp now holds down the third spot with Neil Drysdale, Bob Baffert and

Mike Mitchell in a three-way dead-heat for fourth.

Not much changed in the jockey standings last week as Victor Espinoza, Garret

Gomez and Solis maintained their positions. However, Baze did move into

fourth place with Jon Court dropping to fifth.

The main track played quite uniformly on Wednesday and Thursday, but the bulk

of winners from Friday on showed early speed. There did not appear to any path

biases of significance all week and the turf course appeared bias free.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (5/25)

2ND – CLEVER HUNTER (Jade Hunter) made a dramatic turnaround adding blinkers and

dropping back in for a selling price. Contested the early pace while racing ride

and held gamely to the finish. Clearly fits in a $40K maiden claimer and might also

benefit from a cutback in distance.

5TH – GOLD BRIDLE (Untuttable) finished a sharp second shipping in from New York. Dueled

with an odds-on winning favorite for the lead before giving ground grudgingly in

the stretch. Sophomore should move forward off this initial effort in California.

8TH – READY TO FLIRT (Ready to Order) was a strong second making initial start at a

distance of ground. Carried his speed until midstretch despite being hounded on

the front end virtually every step of the way, yielding only to a fresh closer

late.

Thursday (5/26)

1ST – RYDELL (Rahy) wound up a creditable second off a prolonged layoff.

Exhibited much improved speed switching to dirt with the hood removed. Finished

more than seven lengths clear of the show horse in a race that was fast for the

class level.

5TH – FRESADO (Olympio) turned in a sharp second in his career debut. After

leaping into the air at

the break and racing widest off all on the far turn while rallying, the

four-year-old continued to

lose valuable ground into the stretch. He finished with good energy and was not

abused late. Should benefit from this effort as he does not hail from a strong

first out sire or trainer.

Friday (5/27)

3RD – SLEW IS KING (Slewledo) was an authoritative winner off the shelf for

trainer Mike Mitchell. Hustled to the lead from an outside post and then drew

away decisively. Fondness for this course right off the bat should bode well in

future efforts. Can win right back for $25K or at a slightly higher class

level.

9TH – BASKA JUANITA (Arg) (Engrillado) was a tad short returning from a

freshening in her Hollywood Park debut "under the lights." Stalked modest

fractions and failed to kick it in as the race quickened noticeably late.

Saturday (5/28)

4TH – GUARANTEED VICTORY (Smart Strike) finished a tough luck third off the layoff.

Overcame a bit of a slow start to stalk the pace and then assumed the lead in

the stretch, only to lose a tight photo. Definitely appears better suited to

sprints.

5TH – DREAMABULL (Vicar) turned in a useful effort in well bet debut for Baffert. Chased

dizzying fractions on the front end before retreating in a race she obviously

needed. Her sire is not known for producing many first out winners, so sophomore

filly should move forward off her initial career start.

8TH – TEXCESS (In Excess [Ire]) was not disgraced in his turf debut. Compromised

by a pressured pace while spotting weight to all, he fought gamely into and

through the stretch in his turf debut. He's bred for the green and should

improve off this effort,

Sunday (5/29)

4TH - ALWAYS FIRST (GB) (Barathea [Ire]) was compromised by a crawling pace while

stepping up in class off a win for trainer Neil Drysdale. Unable to make an

impact late as the race quickened noticeably with the final three-sixteenths negotiated in

:17.63, the four-year-old needs honest fractions up front to produce his best effort.

8TH – PRIVATE BANKING (Fr) (Anabaa) did well closing for third in a turf

sprint stakes. Allowed to drop too far behind after breaking last. Slowly

rounding into best form for McAnally, who is extremely patient with European

shippers.

Monday (5/30)

4TH – Singletary refused to relax stalking the pacesetters

while a bit eager off a freshening. Failed to respond when asked in the stretch

and weakened under pressure late. Has yet to win at Hollywood Park, but he should

benefit from this effort.

8TH – Solar Echo continues to progress on the comeback trail for McAnally. Recent effort was

her best yet, stepping up into a Grade 1

stakes while attempting a route of ground for the fist time since 2003. Closed

strongly in the stretch to gain the place while chasing home her sharp entry mate.