Hollywood Park Notebook

HOLLYWOOD PARK NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 17, 2005

by Bernard T. Moore

Even before the 1ST race at Hollywood Park had been run, a

stigma was already attached to it. Management at the Inglewood, California, track served

notice that turf racing would not be conducted during the Fall Meet.

This statement drew the ire of everyone, as grass comprised at least two, and

sometimes three races on the card.

It seems that in the midst of installing the new turf course, not everything

had gone according to plan. The new grass failed to root properly, and when

horses began working over the course, they generated divots and clods of turf.

The grass seed mixture used did not pan out as expected. The turf

course required reseeding with a more traditional seed to obtain the desired

results. The three-day, $1.7 million Autumn Turf Festival had to be scrapped,

which left nobody in a particularly good mood.

Moving forward, lets get to the stakes action on the weekend.

Appropriately named, CHIPS ARE DOWN (Distorted Humor) delivered the goods as

he garnered the top prize despite a less than ideal trip in the roughly run Bien

Bien S. on Saturday. The trouble began when Take a Chance (Petionville) placed

the winner in very tight quarters heading into the first turn, causing him to

check sharply and lose his action. Becrux (Ity) (Glen Jordan) was affected as

well, when he was bumped and subsequently bounced off the rail. Both runners

recovered with Becrux setting the pace along the inside with Yes He's A

Pistol (Yes It's True) acting as his shadow down the backstretch.

Chips Are Down,

trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Garrett Gomez, stalked the two leaders

before making his move around the far turn. He proceeded to wrestle the lead

away entering the stretch and was able to

maintain a safe advantage to the wire. Yes He's a Pistol held well to take down the

place, finishing 4 1/4 lengths in front of Becrux, who tired to third. Take a Chance trailed the field throughout.

Jockeys Patrick Valenzuela and Felipe Martinez, aboard on Becrux and Take a Chance,

respectively, both lodged a claim of foul, and a rare trainer objection was put

in by Nick Hines, trainer of Take A Chance. The

stewards elected not to take any action, ruling that it was Martinez and Take A

Chance who were the culprits and caused the crowding.

PUSSYCAT DOLL (Real Quiet) was able to secure the lead down the backstretch,

and subsequently increased her advantage with every stride to win the Audrey

Skirball-Kenis S. by 6 1/4 lengths on Sunday. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, she

was a tad eager when disputing the early pace but accelerated nicely when given

her cue around the far turn, drawing away from the pack. Skipping

Court (Doneraile Court) offered an improved effort returning to a route of

ground and finished well for second at odds of 12-1. A Classic Life (Sky

Classic) argued the early fractions to the far turn and then tired to finish a

well-beaten third. Homecoming (Pulpit), the 5-2 second choice in the wagering,

trailed the field most of the way in a non-descript fourth.

Early speed was preferable on the main track on Wednesday, but there were no

appreciable biases the remainder of the week. There were no apparent path biases all week.

Garrett Gomez picked up where he left off at the recently concluded Oak Tree

meet and boasts a five-win lead over Valenzuela and Corey Nakatani, who

are dead-locked for the second spot in the jockey standings.

Bob Baffert leads Doug O'Neill in the trainers' race, with Martin Jones

holding down third-place

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (11/9)

3RD – KOBAYASHI (Ecton Park) showed a remarkable turnaround in his second

start. Running over his home base at Hollywood in his two-turn debut, the

juvenile colt exhibited surprise

speed to set a pressured pace and held gamely to finish second.

Bred on both sides of his pedigree for a route of ground.

5TH – ME MY MINE (Belong to Me) was dueled into defeat on the front end by the once classy Bluesthestandard

(American Standard). He doesn't need to have the lead and could turn things

around in his next start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer off the claim.

Thursday (11/10)

7TH – TRAIL MIX (Trail City) gave way in the stretch after carving out

enterprising fractions at seven furlongs off a layoff. Both main track wins came

at Hollywood, but in state-bred competition.

8TH – ARIES RISING (Mr. Procrastinator) finished a good second off the

Clifford Sise claim. Finished

with good energy to get the place behind a loose wire-to-wire winner. Would

benefit from a slight class drop and a livelier pace scenario.

Friday (11/11)

2ND – SPEED ROUSER (Flying Continental) turned in a useful sprint sharpener off a brief

rest. Vied for the lead from the outset before tiring slowly in the stretch. Both

career victories have come at a flat mile vs. much softer.

6TH – VALID AGAIN (Awesome Again) showed a dramatic reversal in form off the layoff

while reuniting with trainer Julio Canani. Leveled off nicely in the stretch to finish

with interest and narrowly missed overhauling the leader late. Most recent

winning effort came over this course at seven furlongs for Canani.

Saturday (11/12)

1ST – ITTY BITTY PRETTY (El Corredor) gave a sharp effort dropping into a

preliminary allowance contest. Recaptured her early foot to stalk the winner's

pace and was clearly second best. Needs only to overcome her gate problems to capture her initial victory against winners.

3RD – Becrux finished a troubled third switching back to the main

track. Bobbled slightly leaving the gate and then hit the rail when bumped

entering the first turn. Recovered nicely to set the pace but weakened in the

stretch off a nine-week respite. May ultimately return to grass in future

efforts for trainer Neil Drysdale.

Sunday (11/13)

8TH – SKIPPING COURT (Doneraile Court) was overmatched returning to Hollywood, a

track she adores. Finished well for second chasing home the odds-on

winning favorite and would fit best in a mid-level claimer for O'Neill, who is off to a fast start at the meet.