Hollywood Notebook

A pair of stakes events were on display at Hollywood Park over the past week.

Cinema Breeders' Cup H. (G3): Christopher Wright's WORLDLY (GB)

(Selkirk) improved his mark to a perfect three since coming to the United States

with a professional one length victory in here for trainer Ben Cecil. The gelded

three-year-old got the jump on his main rival turning for home and kept that one

at bay late, finishing off the 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf in 1:47 2/5 under

Victor Espinoza.

Valkyr S.: Clark and Janine Hansen's homebred LADY GAMER (Game Plan)

was allowed to dictate an easy early tempo before inching clear to a 2

1/4-length tally in this one for trainer John Sadler. The four-year-old filly

went six furlongs on the Cushion Track in 1:09 4/5 to score her third

consecutive victory. The winner was piloted by David Flores.

Track Stats

From a total of 42 races held over the Inglewood, California, racetrack,

favorites won at a 38 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for

an unusually high 69 percent of the wins for the week. From 31 frays contested

on the Cushion Track, five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (16 percent),

while just one of the 11 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (9

percent). Saturday produced seven favorites and two second choices from its

nine-race card.

Meet totals through week nine:

HORSES TO WATCH:

Wednesday (6/20)

7TH – PRIVATE DREAMS (Johannesburg) put in a useful effort in her career bow

and could be much tighter in her next effort for conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer.

The three-year-old miss scored just an 83 BRIS Speed figure in this one, but

expect much better in her next try.

Thursday (6/21)

7TH – CIGAR PAL (Benchmark) closed with a fury to just miss by a nose in this

one, which marked his turf debut. Conditioned by turf wizard Julio Canani, the

lightly raced six-year-old is an obvious stakes threat on the green and could be

headed that way before long. The colt scored a 93 Speed number and 97 Late Pace

figure.

Friday (6/22)

7TH^{– WIND WATER (Bold Badgett) ran too well to lose in here and}

should be especially tough in his return effort for Sadler. The five-year-old

gelding missed by only a neck to a classy one, and was given a 93 Speed number.

Saturday (6/23)

6TH – DEPUTY LAD (Mecke) has reeled off four wins in succession at this meet,

and the old-timer could turn out to be a wise claim for conditioner Alfredo

Marquez. The classy gelding earned a strong 94 Speed figure for his work and

should be tough right back over the Cushion.

7TH -- AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again) exuded his class in here, ranging up to

the leader in the lane before inching off to a handy one-length win for trainer

Craig Dollase. The Grade 2 winner, who notched a 98 Speed figure, has put in two

solid efforts over this ground and should reacquaint himself with graded foes

before long.

Sunday (6/24)

4TH – UNDER SERVICED (Hook and Ladder) was impressive in her debut for

trainer Bob Baffert, eye-balling a more experienced runner before getting her

head on the line beneath Flores. The expensive two-year-old purchase could be

any type. She was given a 91 Speed figure.

5TH -- It appears that the Hollywood wax suits DEBIE GINSBURG (Delaware

Township) just fine following her impressive 2 3/4-length victory in here for

Michael Machowsky. The sophomore miss took to the addition of blinkers and the

surface switch with ease, hinting that some added ground might be to her liking,

as well, evidenced by her 100 Late Pace number.

6TH -- CHANCELLOR (Deputy Minister), a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 hero

Toccet (Awesome Again), run huge in his two-turn debut and was an unlucky loser

for Gary Mandella. The three-year-old colt didn't have the smoothest of trips

but still closed with good energy, falling just a nose shy at the wire while

recording an 88 Speed figure.

A look ahead

The $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), which will lure two-time defending

champion Lava Man (Slew City Slew), headlines the weekend of racing at

Hollywood. Also on Saturday, the $250,000 American H. (G2) over nine panels on

the turf, and the $100,000 Landaluce S. for juvenile fillies on the main oval

will take place.

The Sunday feature is the $150,000 Beverly Hills H. (G2), for fillies and

mares going 10 grassy furlongs.