Hollywood Notebook

HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 8, 2006

by John Mucciolo

The opening of the Hollywood Park winter meet welcomed the addition of a new

surface in Southern California, Cushion Track. From a visual standpoint, the new

ground looks very similar to the regular dirt surface, but from a racing

standpoint, the surface plays quite differently from the old track. As the

Hollywood meet was known for its speed-favoring tendencies in the past, the

Cushion Track has, thus far, taken away that bias and played more fairly to late

runners. We will closely follow the trends of the track as the meet progresses.

Bien Bien S.: Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Schiappa's

PORTO SANTO (Fr) (Kingsalsa) proved much the best in here for trainer Julio

Canani, closing stoutly on the inside to earn his first U.S. stakes race. The

three-year-old colt had come up on the short end in recent stakes tilts but

proved his class against this overmatched bunch, finishing off one mile over the

firm turf in 1:34 3/5 under Victor Espinoza. The winner had plenty left late and

could have won by more in a dominant effort.

Real Quiet S..: Kendall Mann's ROMAN COMMANDER (Deputy Commander)

split horses in midstretch and pulled away to a commanding victory by

three-quarters of a length for conditioner Gary Stute. Piloted by Isias

Enriquez, the two-year-old stopped the timer in a moderate 1:44 3/5, but

finished off his final three-sixteenths in a strong :31 3/5 en route to his

second stakes win. The improving freshman colt spotted his nearest competitors

four pounds each, making his win all the more impressive.

Sharp Cat S.: Class Racing Stable's et al. RUNAWAY ROSIE (Include) was

the recipient of a superbly timed ride by Garrett Gomez to annex this affair for

trainer David Hoffmans. The freshman miss bided her time on the rail and quickly

spurted clear in the stretch when a hole appeared, getting 1 1/16 miles in 1:45

2/5. We're not sure of the quality of field assembled for this tilt, but the

winner appreciated the switch to Cushion Track and stretchout in distance,

leading us to believe that she'll be one to watch as 2007 begins.

Track Stats

From a total of 42 races held over the Hollywood Park racetrack, favorites

won at a 28 percent clip, and the top two betting choices combined for 50

percent of the wins from opening week. From 33 frays contested on the main oval,

just 18 percent of all winners won in wire-to-wire fashion, while only 11

percent of the nine grassy tussles were taken all the way on the lead.

Sunday was the most helpful for horses coming from off the pace on the main

oval, as not a single race was taken by a horse on the lead in the early going.

Friday yielded four wire-to-wire winners, with seven of the first two betting

options winning in the eight contests.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (11/1)

5TH – BACHELORETTE ONE (Perfect Mandate) had exactly one horse behind her in

midstretch but closed with a fury to take this race going away for John Sadler.

A swift final time of 1:42 3/5 included a ridiculously fast :29 2/5 final

three-sixteenths, leading us to believe that this lass will be heading to stakes

company next out.

7TH – PUBLICATION (Petionville) has always flirted with becoming a star, and

the addition of the new surface at Hollywood could be just what the gelding

needs to reach new heights. The seven-year-old was last after the opening

quarter-mile but rallied boldly on the outside to capture this race for Valdimir

Cerin. The multiple graded stakes-placed dark bay earned a 95 BRIS Speed number

for his fine effort.

Thursday (11/2)

4TH – BELVEDERE BELLE (Hennessy) took the lead after the start and never

looked back in a fine gate-to-wire tally for John Sadler. The five-year-old mare

earned a 113 BRIS Late Pace number and could be one to watch in her subsequent

start.

Friday (11/3)

6TH – The Jeff Mullins-trained PRIVATE HALL (Truly Met) overcame a slow start

to win going away in this six furlong test. The three-year-old filly was one of

three horses to win from off the pace on this day, and the lass did it with

style under Tyler Baze, stopping the timer in 1:11 1/5. She's been first or

second in all three starts with Mullins and showed an affinity for the new

racing surface.

Saturday (11/4)

4TH – SAVE (Silver Charm) has turned out to be a very nice claim for Mike

Harrington and was the lone wire-to-wire winner on this day. The four-year-old

blazed a half-mile in :44 3/5 and never stopped, recording six panels in a

snappy 1:10. The winner was rewarded with a solid 90 BRIS Speed figure.

Sunday (11/5)

6TH – THE KING'S LASS (King of Kings [Ire]) made the pace in here and fell

just a neck and nose shy of taking this field all they way for Kathy Walsh. The

filly has run winning races in her last pair and likely won't be a maiden much

longer.

A LOOK AHEAD

A pair of grassy stakes races will take place at Hollywood Park over the

following weekend. Saturday's feature will have three-year-old filles and mares

going 12 furlongs in the $60,000 Hermosa Beach H., while Sunday will feature

sophomore fillies going 1 1/8 miles in the Audrey S. Kenis S. A total of 14

graded stakes races are on tap for the Hollywood meet, headlined by the Turf

Festival from November 24-26.