Hollywood Park Notebook

HOLLYWOOD PARK NOTEBOOK

MAY 24, 2012

by John Mucciolo

A pair of graded races highlighted the week at Hollywood.

Marjorie L. Everett H. (G2): Jay Em Ess Stable's INCLUDE ME OUT

streaked to her third straight graded score with a three-quarters of a length

tally in this one for conditioner Ron Ellis. The ultra-talented four-year-old

stopped the teletimer in 1:44 for the 1 1/16 miles run on the Cushion oval

beneath Joe Talamo.

Railbird S. (G3): Steve Beneto's VIA VILLAGGIO wore down the 1-20

favorite en route to a half-length win in this one under Martin Pedroza. The

Jerry Hollendorfer sophomore trainee sped seven panels on the main oval in 1:23.

Track Stats

From a total of 36 races held over the Inglewood, California, racetrack

during the past week, favorites won at a 39 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 61 percent of the wins. From 24 frays contested on the

Cushion oval, eight animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (33 percent), while six

of the 12 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (50 percent).

A week after writing that we were surprised that speed was not holding better

on the lawn, we see six of 12 go wire-to-wire on the green this week. Four of

those results came in route races, with the other pair occurring in six-furlong

sprints.

Speed was very good on the main oval early in the days of the racing week,

especially on Friday, with four of the six main-track winners leading at every

call. Of the eight front-end winners, though, two did occur in 4 1/2-furlong

maiden dashes.

Meet Totals

RACES:		142
CUSHION:		101
TURF:		41
FAVORITES:		52 (37 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		27 (19 percent)
TURF WIRE:		9 (22 percent)
CUSHION WIRE:		31 (31 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (5/17)

7TH -- DANDEREK took command early and led all the way in this one in a fine

tally for trainer Francesco Santella. The gelded six-year-old was pretty strong

throughout this one while never being seriously tested, and could evolve into a

stakes player at marathon trips with steady growth.

Friday (5/18)

2ND -- CANDY AND THUNDER put in a solid late run following a slow break to

fall just a jump or two short in this turf dash. The Doug O'Neill trainee should

be a big player next out if placed with similar foes.

Saturday (5/19)

1ST -- MAKE MUSIC FOR ME was the recipient of a heady ride by Martin Garcia

and impressed when showing a new tactic by going to the lead early in this

eventual tally. The five-year-old could really benefit if he can get into his

races sooner in the future.

4TH -- Trainer Mike Mitchell surely had KALK BAY primed for her return in

this one, as the four-year-old miss left this group in her wake inside the final

furlong. Last seen at Del Mar in the summer, the bay was not claimed and could

be in line for a class rise.

6TH -- PLAYFUL COUNCIL was a sharp second in an improved showing for

conditioner David Hofmans and could graduate soon. We thought this was a fairly

solid cast of juveniles.

9TH -- AKKADIAN put in a strong late run to be second after being last for

most of the early running in this turf test. The Julio Canani trainee showed

glimpses of being a real good one last year, and could evolve into a solid

performer in 2012.

Sunday (5/20)

6TH -- BYRONY absolutely exploded in the stretch on this day to win like a

good thing in her U.S. debut for conditioner John Sadler. The four-year-old

filly beat a questionable field in our minds, but did so with a ton of class,

getting her final five-sixteenths in a swift :29 3/5. She could be a very good

one.

A Look Ahead

The Grade 1, $250,000 Gamely Stakes on Memorial Day is the highlight of the

weekend, with the Grade 3, $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap on the undercard.

Saturday plays host to the Grade 2, $150,000 American Handicap.