Hollywood Notebook

HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 24, 2005

by Bernard T. Moore

Saturday's featured event was the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) for juveniles

sprinting seven furlongs. Odds-on favoritism fell upon Old Thunder (Fusaichi

Pegasus), but, it was the longest shot in the field that took down top honors.

YOUR TENT OR MINE (Forest Camp), sent off at odds of 6-1 and ridden by Patrick

Valenzuela, won decisively in spite of a bit of a slow start. Your Tent or Mine

was able to overcome that incident, stalking a sprightly pace on the front end

while racing toward the inside part of the course. He then went on to split

runners like a seasoned pro in the stretch, moving to challenge for the lead and

then drawing clear under pressure to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Da Stoops (Distorted Humor) sprinted to the front shortly after the gates

opened and carved out lively fractions while on the lead. He held gamely to

midstretch until being displaced by the subsequent winner and continued on with

interest to finish a strong second over The Pharaoh (Forest Camp), who ran a

much improved third while returning to a sprint off the layoff. As for Old

Thunder, he regressed badly off a daylight maiden score. He raced at the rear of

the compact field and offered only a token response when asked for more run in

the stretch, checking in a disappointing fourth.

It was no small task for PRIVATE WORLD (Thunder Gulch) to keep her

unblemished record intact in the Moccasin S. on Sunday. Making her first start

beyond six furlongs, she was forced to overcome a bumping incident in the

stretch en route to a well-deserved and hard-fought nose victory. With regular

rider Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, the Bob Hess Jr.-trained runner was hounded

nearly every step of the way while dictating the early pace. She was never able

to secure more than a head advantage as Bettarun Fast (Kelly Kip) and True Xena

(Yes It's True) shadowed her on the front end to the far turn. Bettarun Fast

began to tire from her early exploits shortly thereafter, but True Xena was

nowhere near finished. Both she and Private World began to slowly pull away from

the field upon entering the stretch, with little to chose between them.

True Xena lugged in to bump the eventual winner, costing Private World the

lead as she dropped back slightly as a result of the incident. Undaunted,

Private World simply refused to lose, coming back again in deep stretch to gain

the lead and the victory by a scant nose. The stewards immediately flashed the

inquiry sign on the tote board shortly after the runners crossed the finish

line. After reviewing the stretch run countless times, they ruled that the

runner-up, True Xena, initiated the contact and let the original order of finish

stand. Cotton Bay (El Corredor), the 8-5 favorite, broke a bit awkwardly and

closed with good energy to gain the show in her first effort against winners.

Martin Pedroza leads all jockeys with 11 victories, two more than Garrett

Gomez in second. Jon Court, Corey Nakatani and Alex Solis are tied for third

place with six wins each.

Jeff Mullins and Bob Baffert sit atop the trainer standings, with Doug 

O'Neill in third and John Sadler fourth.

Early speed runners dominated the results when racing returned on Wednesday.

That trend became less pronounced on Friday, with the no apparent biases on

Saturday or Sunday.

There did not appear to be any discernible path biases all week.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (11/16)

4TH – EVER SO NICE (Kleven) finished a sharp second facing multiple winners

while competing over her home base. Gave futile chase to an odds-on superior

pace rival who went on to score, benefiting from a speed-conducive track. Ever

So Nice can either lead or rate.

6TH – SPY ALY (Wheaton) was a game third off the shelf. Held grimly setting a

pressured pace, giving ground grudgingly late. Doesn't like to yield when placed

on the lead.

Thursday (11/17)

7TH – EXCESS TAXES (Sea Tempest) wound up an even third in his comeback

effort off the layoff in a shortened sprint. Was unable to improve his position

late over a speed biased course. Can move forward in second start off the shelf.

Look for a rider switch back to Gomez in his next start.

8TH – ONLY GIRLS (Memo) was hard-used setting a quick and pressured pace. Can

improve off this effort if able to cut back in distance and clear the field in

future efforts.

Friday (11/18)

4TH – AGASSI (Grand Slam) turned in a useful third-place finish in his well

bet career debut under the lights. Trailed the field early after a slow

beginning and then finished well to get the show in a good educational race. Dam

was winless in three starts, but she hails from a good stakes winning family.

Agassi should move forward with experience and distance.

5TH – PERSISTENT (Aljabr) closed well to gain the place despite a bit of a

wide trip off the layoff. Remains eligible for a starter allowance contest. Lone

victory came at Hollywood Park.

Saturday (11/19)

2ND – CADDYMASTER (Western Fame) was pounded down to odds-on favoritism in

his well bet debut for Hess. Raced four-wide stalking fast fractions and then

raced evenly late. Should have derived beneficial conditioning and experience

from this effort. Bred for a sprint and to win early in his career.

8TH – Da Stoops finished a sharp second stepping up in after setting a

pestered pace class. Won the pace battle but lost the war to a fresh closer.

California-bred runner stills qualifies for a state-bred preliminary allowance

contest.

Sunday (11/20)

2ND – GOLD RUSH BANKER (Banker's Gold), an Emerald Downs invader, was

ambitiously spotted shipping to Hollywood Park. He was dueled into defeat

contesting a very enterprising pace. Would obviously benefit from some much

needed class relief.

8TH – True Xena wound up a tough luck second in only her second career

outing. Lack of seasoning cost her the victory as she wanted to lug in during

the stretch, thus hampering her rider. Might benefit if equipped with blinkers

in her next start.