Hollywood Notebook

HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK

MAY 30, 2013

by John Mucciolo

There was a trio of graded tilts over the holiday weekend at Hollywood Park.

Gamely S. (G1): Glen Hill Farm's MARKETING MIX (Medaglia d'Oro) took a

short lead in midstretch and held off a game late challenge to bag her 2013

debut for trainer Tom Proctor. The classy five-year-old finished off 1 1/8 miles

on the firm turf here in 1:47 1/5 under the guidance of Gary Stevens.

American H. (G2): Fanticola and Sardino's OBVIOUSLY (Ire) (Choisir)

led soon after the start and was never challenged throughout in a most

impressive, 2 1/2-length rout in this contest under Joe Talamo. The

five-year-old gelding finished off a mile on the firm lawn in a snappy 1:32 4/5

for trainer Mike Mitchell.

Los Angeles H. (G3): Barber et al's COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie)

took command of this race soon after the break and never was challenged

thereafter in posting an easy 1 1/4-length score in here for trainer Peter

Miller. The five-year-old gelding, who was guided by Edwin Maldonado, sped six

panels on the Cushion oval in 1:09.

Track Stats

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

during the past week, favorites won at a 32 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 57 percent of the wins. From 31 frays contested on the

Cushion Track oval, eight animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (26 percent),

while four horses went all the way on the lead from 13 turf events (31 percent).

Speed on the main oval was best on Saturday, when the first three dirt races

resulted in wire-to-wire winners. Overall, we didn't see a speed bias all week

over an oval that seemed to play fairly.

Outside posts did tons better this week, too, with nine horses breaking from

wider than post six coming through on the main oval, reversing a trend from the

previous three weeks of racing.

From four turf wire jobs, three came in route events and one in a sprint. Of

the four, two came from odds-on favorites who cruised home. We love the way the

turf oval is giving all runners a chance at this meeting.

Meet Totals

RACES:		185
CUSHION:		127
TURF:		58
FAVORITES:		59 (32 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		44 (24 percent)
TURF WIRE:		11 (19 percent)
CUSHION WIRE:		42 (33 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (5/23)

2ND -- The Peter Miller-conditioned ON THE BACKSTREETS (Street Boss) looked

the part at first asking in this potentially sharp field with a 2 1/4-length

score under Joe Talamo. The debuting juvenile was always well placed and turned

it on in the lane, suggesting he could be of stakes quality and should handle

added ground.

5TH -- MARINDA (Scat Daddy) returns to this list following a fine win going

long in here after showing such good form sprinting. Trainer Richard Mandella

really has this filly going well right now.

6TH -- The Donald Warren-trained VOLKONSKY (Vronsky) couldn't catch the

winner but finished more than five lengths clear of third in a superb debut try

at the tricky distance of seven furlongs. The gelding should be ultra-tough in

his return.

Friday (5/24)

5TH -- NIAGRA FALLS (Giant's Causeway) has now put in a trio of fine races in

succession and is proven to be best at these marathon distances for conditioner

Patrick Biancone. The four-year-old colt will be stakes bound in the very near

future once again.

7TH -- EGG DROP (Alphabet Soup) pressed the pacesetter to the top of the

lane, took command turning for home and finished fast en route to a fine

allowance score over a nice field. The Mike Mitchell-trained Florida-bred has a

lot of ability and seems best at races of one turn.

Saturday (5/25)

3RD -- Group 1 hero LUCAYAN (Turtle Bowl) was last early but put in a nice

late run to be a sharp second in his U.S. debut in this field. The Neil Drysdale

pupil could want a bit more ground to work with going forward, but this was a

fine way to kick start his four-year-old campaign.

7TH -- SWEET BOSS (Street Boss) was surely ready for this debut run for

trainer John Shirreffs and could turn into a nice one with more seasoning. The

debuting sophomore miss showed useful tactical speed and wore down the clear

leading favorite in the lane to post a stylish first-out win under Julien

Leparoux. She could be any type.

Sunday (5/26)

7TH -- SCHIAPARELLI (Ghostzapper) left little doubt in this turf dash in

leading throughout in a most facile score in this heat. The vastly improved mare

has turned into a monster since adding blinkers three back and looks like the

second-best turf sprinter on the grounds for Mike Puype.

Monday (5/27)

3RD -- POINTSOFFTHEBENCH (Benchmark) made pretty short work of a very good

sprint field in this one and should surely be stakes bound very soon for

conditioner Tim Yakteen.

8TH -- The John Sadler-trained DOYOUSEEMECOMING (Put it Back) made a fine

comeback in his first race since September in holding on late in here beneath

Victor Espinoza. The four-year-old gelding was always well placed, and after

having this one under his belt, he might even close faster next time.

SUPER ABILITY (Langfuhr) was topped in here as the favorite, but the Carla

Gaines charge battled back gamely after being passed in a courageous effort.

We'd tab this one for future use as his form has never been anything near this

fine.

A Look Ahead

Saturday will play host to the Grade 2, $150,000 Californian Stakes while the

Sunday card will be led by the Grade 3, $100,000 Affirmed Handicap.