Hollywood Notebook

The opening weekend at Hollywood Park was highlighted by

a massive $1.3 million two-day Pick 6 carryover into Saturday's card, as well as

Gold Rush Day on Sunday, where California-bred's contested 10 stakes events.

Wilshire H. (G3): Deborah McAnally's CHARM THE GIANT (Ire) (Giant's

Causeway) earned her first graded win with a 1 1/2-length score under Mike Baze.

Rating well off the pace for trainer Ron McAnally, the five-year-old miss flew

late to inhale her rivals, stopping the timer in 1:34 for the one mile on the

firm lawn.

Harry Henson S.: Christopher Drakos' HURRY HOME WARREN (Mancini) led

every step of the way in recording his first black-type tally in here. Trained

by Jesus Mendoza and ridden by Victor Espinoza, the gelded three-year-old

stopped the timer in a sharp 1:08 3/5 for six furlongs on the lawn.

Inglewood H. (G3): Marty and Pam Wygod's homebred AFTER MARKET (Storm

Cat) returned to his winning ways with a dominant three-length tally in this

one. The John Shirreffs charge was widest of all virtually the entire race,

but it didn't matter as he pulled clear late, getting 1 1/16 miles over the firm

turf in 1:39 3/5 beneath Alex Solis.

California Gold Rush Day: Congratulations to all of the connections of

the winners on this day:

RARE EXCHANGE (Benchmark), NASHOBA'S KEY (Silver Hawk), SOMETHINABOUTLAURA

(Dance Floor), GREG'S GOLD (Lake George), SILVER Z (Cee's Tizzy), EPIC POWER

(Epic Honor), SOCIAL CLIMBER (Labeeb [GB]), TIZ ELEMENTAL (Cee's Tizzy),

LEESIDER (Bertrando) and SCANDALOUS (Memo [Chi]).

Track Stats

From a total of 44 races held over the Inglewood, California, racetrack,

favorites won at a 32 percent clip (including six of 10 races on Sunday) and the

top two betting choices combined for 45 percent of the wins for the week. From

31 frays contested on the Cushion Track, seven horses won in wire-to-wire

fashion 22 percent), while one winner of the 13 grassy tussles was taken all the

way on the lead (20 percent).

Meet totals through week one:

HORSES TO WATCH:

Wednesday (04/25)

2ND – The Bob Baffert-conditioned WORTHY CAUSE (Pleasant Tap) relished the

stretch out to two turns, as well as the synthetic surface, in registering a

convincing three-length win. The four-year-old had been knocking on the door in

two subsequent starts this campaign and earned a career best 88 BRIS Speed

figure.

5TH – FLEET CAROLINE (Tejano Run) made it three straight following a facile

win in her turf debut. The three-year-old miss, trained by Vladimir Cerin, was

always prominent in this one before spurting clear in the stretch, getting the

one mile in 1:34 4/5. The lass was rewarded with a 93 Speed number.

Thursday (04/26)

1ST – GREAT OPINIONS (Rahy) once again showed that she is truly a horse for

course with a strong score in here for Ben Cecil. A winner and third place

finisher in two tries over this going in the winter, the Kentucky-bred was last

early but ran past them all with ease, registering a lifetime best 94 Speed

number. This miss is stakes quality on the Cushion.

7TH – Champion DECLAN'S MOON (Malibu Moon) showed a form reversal in his

runner-up finish in here, earning a 98 Speed figure. Clearly second best on this

day, the Ron Ellis charge had looked downright average in his last pair and this

try gives hope that he could return to winning form soon.

Friday (04/27)

4TH^{– SILVER STETSON MAN (Silver Charm) was especially impressive}

in this debut for Baffert, shifting to the outside in the lane to get up beneath

Espinoza. The sophomore colt looked finished on the rail heading to the stretch,

but showed another gear in recording a big 100 Speed fig. He appears to have a

bright future.

Saturday (04/28)

2ND – With all three career wins coming over this synthetic surface, A. P.

XCELLENT (A.P. Indy) is another who deserves the label of horse for course. The

John Shirreffs trainee can establish fast early fractions and have plenty left

late here at Hollywood, and he is surely a live contender in the graded ranks.

The four-year-old was given a career topping 101 Speed number.

A Look Ahead

The $150,000 Mervin LeRoy H. (G2) will take place on Saturday, while the

$100,000 Hawthorne H. (G3) will be contested on Sunday.