Hollywood Notebook

HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 14, 2008

by John Mucciolo

A pair of stakes races was the centerpiece of the week at Hollywood Park.

Hermosa Beach S.: Christopher Wright's HIGH HEEL SNEAKERS (GB) (Dansili

[GB]) was always well-placed under Victor Espinoza and drew off like a good

thing in taking this one as the favorite for Ben Cecil, winning by 2 3/4

lengths. The five-year-old mare reached the wire in 2:28 2/5 for 1 1/2 miles on

the lawn.

Real Quiet S.: Sid and Jenny Craig's homebred CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy

Ride [Arg]) finished with excellent ability to draw off in here for Jerry

Hollendorfer, stopping the teletimer in 1:42 1/5 for 1 1/16 miles. The rapidly

improving juvenile colt didn't top the deepest field, but he earned a

career-best BRIS Speed rating and seems well-positioned for a run toward the

Santa Anita Derby (G1) next spring.

Track Stats

From a total of 43 races held over the Inglewood racetrack during the week,

favorites won at a 35 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for

46 percent of the wins. From 32 frays contested on the vast main oval, five

animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (15 percent), while just one of the 11

grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (9 percent).

The main surface was ridiculously fast over the past week, with bottom-level

runners shading 1:10 in many of the six-furlong sprints. There was no particular

bias in my opinion that led to this, but giving up ground over the main track

was not as detrimental as it was in the first week.

Outside posts had a big edge in midweek (Thursday and Friday), while those

breaking from posts 1-6 dominated over Saturday and Sunday, taking 16 of the 19

heats.

Meet Totals

RACES:		86
CUSHION TRACK:		62
TURF:		24
FAVORITES:		33 (38 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		9   (10 percent)
TURF WIRE:		3   (12 percent)
CUSHION TRACK WIRE:		15 (24 percent)

Post Positions (wins)

RAIL:		10
1-3:		40
4-6:		29
7-out:		17

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (11/5)

3RD -- FIRE BREAK (Petionville) disappointed in here while finishing fifth as

the favorite, but the three-year-old was only two lengths shy of the win and

could offer good value in his return.

7TH -- A LITTLE DUMAANI (Dumaani) was well backed and deservedly so, as the

sophomore topped a solid field in here for Doug O'Neill. The gelding smoked six

panels in a speedy 1:08 and appears to be headed in the right direction.

Thursday (11/6)

1ST -- We were surprised that TIMIAS (Seeking the Gold) was not claimed out

of here, as the in-form John Sadler trainee looked looks like he has really

moved up on the synthetic since the summer. The easy winner rallied from last to

win going away, just missing the track mark over the lightning-fast oval.

2ND -- LADY LUMBERJACK (Forestry) showed courage and ability in finishing a

strong second to an odds-on winner for conditioner Julio Canani. The debuting

miss is surely one to watch in her return.

7TH -- MAJESTIC DIAMOND (NZ) (Diamond Express) put in a superb account of

himself with the upset in here for Leonard Powell, outkicking a solid runner

from the Bobby Frankel barn. The winner in here was brave late in between foes

and should be a square price in his return.

Friday (11/7)

3RD -- RAIL TRIP (Jump Start) got just that in a smart debut for Ron Ellis,

leading at every call to win at will. The sophomore blazed three-quarters in

1:07 4/5 over the speedway, getting his final quarter-mile in :12 flat.

Saturday (11/8)

1ST -- PRECIOUS UNION (Dixie Union) had no chance with her stablemate winner

in here, but the filly finished well to be a strong second for Richard Mandella.

The three-year-old should win soon.

3RD -- GREEN LYONS (Ire) (Green Desert) found this field much more

comfortable than her last, and offered good value in taking this one for Neil

Drysdale. The four-year-old filly upended a decent cast and came home in :22 4/5

for her final two panels.

4TH -- It's been a long time since we've seen LIQUIDITY (Tiznow), and the

four-year-old was obviously a bit rusty in here for Doug O'Neill. The talented

colt should move way up off this try, especially with added ground to negotiate

with.

7TH -- POSITION A (Aldebaran) ran in spurts in his first showing for

Mandella, but the future looks very bright for the juvenile colt. We have a

strong hunch that this one will be on the stakes scene as a sophomore.

A Look Ahead

Fillies will have the spotlight in the upcoming weekend, in the $65,000

Audrey Kenis S. for sophomores on Saturday and Sunday's $100,000 Moccasin S. for

freshmen fillies.