Turf Cup, Native Diver featured on Futurity undercard

Seemingly out of his element when a faltering ninth in the Canadian

International in late October, Lucayan figures to show better form at his

Hollywood Park base in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000

Hollywood

Turf Cup.

Up closer to the pace than usual over deep ground at Woodbine, Lucayan began

his steady retreat by the second call of that 1 1/2-mile fixture. It was a far

cry from the contending form he had displayed throughout the summer and fall in

Southern California, when he placed in the John Henry Turf Championship, Del Mar

Handicap, and American Handicap.

Although winless since taking the 2012 French Two Thousand Guineas, Lucayan

is one of the classier entrants in the six-horse Turf Cup, which is also

contested at 12 furlongs. Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, who has surprisingly

never trained a winner of this race, has enlisted Joel Rosario to ride.

The three-year-old Hear the Ghost will step up in class and distance later on

Saturday's card in the Grade 3, $150,000

Native

Diver. The 1 1/8-mile event on Cushion Track drew a field of nine, with Hear

the Ghost set to break outside his older rivals.

Briefly a classic candidate following a half-length victory in the San Felipe

last March, Hear the Ghost was sidelined the following month after developing a

knee injury. The Ghostzapper gelding returned to the races in a 6 1/2-furlong

allowance on November 7, where he finished second as the even-money choice.

Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains Hear the Ghost, will also saddle

Blueskiesnrainbows, second by a length in the November 1 Breeders' Cup Marathon,

and Rousing Sermon, last seen taking the On Trust Handicap for California-breds

on November 24.