FIELD FOR $500,000 HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP SWELLS TO 15,
TIKKANEN ON FENCE FOR SUNDAY'S GRADE I RACE
The Key Rainbow wants in, meaning Tikkanen just might be out of Sunday's
$500,000 Hollywood Turf Cup.
A lot can happen, of course, between now and Sunday's Grade I Turf Cup, but as of Thursday morning 1994 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Tikkanen was not guaranteed a stall in the starting gate.
Trainer Bobby Frankel, who already has Juddmonte Farms' 3-year-old filly Privity in the race, said Thursday he also planned to enter Edmund Gann's The Key Rainbow in the 1 1/2-mile turf race. The Key Rainbow, who rallied from last to finish second in a $40,000 allowance race at 12 furlongs here a week ago, had been pegged for the $150,000 W. L. McKnight Handicap at Calder Race Course on Dec. 16. Frankel, however, said he had instead decided to keep The Key Rainbow at Hollywood Park for the Turf Cup.
According to the rules of the race, if the number of entries exceeds the starting gate capacity -- 14 -- first preference will be given to graded or group stakes winners in 1995. Second preference will be given to those horses with the highest total earnings in 1995.
The probable Turf Cup starters who have won neither a graded nor a group race in 1995 are Celtic Arms, Patio de Naranjos, Suave Tern, The Key Rainbow and Tikkanen. Of those, Tikkanen has the lowest earnings, $54,587, which makes him, for the moment anyway, the odd-horse out. Next lowest is The Key Rainbow with $85,878.
Probables for the Hollywood Turf Cup, to be decided at 1 1/2 miles on turf: Celtic Arms, no rider, 126; Earl Of Barking, G. F. Almeida, 126; Hollywood Dream, John Reid, 123; Kiri's Clown, Mike Luzzi, 126; Parme, Corey Nakatani, 126; Party Season, Chris McCarron, 126; Patio de Naranjos, Gary Stevens, 126; Privity, Chris Antley, 119; Rifapour, no rider, 122; Royal Chariot, Alex Solis, 126; Shrewd Idea, no rider, 126; Suave Tern, no rider, 126; Talloires, Kent Desormeaux, 126; The Key Rainbow, Laffit Pincay Jr., 122, and Tikkanen, Cash Asmussen, 126.
SUAVE TERN AND RIFAPOUR IN QUARANTINE
Suave Tern and Rifapour both arrived from France Wednesday night and were
immediately isolated at the track's quarantine facility.
Quarantine barn superviser Paul Kooba said if all goes well both runners will be released early Friday afternoon. Suave Tern is trained by John Hammond while Rifapour, formerly trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre, goes to Rodney Rash.
FINAL WORKS FOR TURF CUP
Several Hollywood Turf Cup horses blew out Thursday morning:
The Neil Drysdale-trained tandem of Party Season and Patio de Naranjos each worked four furlongs on a firm turf course (dogs up). Party Season was timed in :48 4/5, breezing, and Patio De Naranjos was clocked in :51 1/5, handily.
Talloires breezed a half-mile on the turf in :53 1/5 for Richard Mandella and Tikkanen went four furlongs in :49, handily, for assistant trainer Bertrand De Brevedent.
TROPICOOL TO SHIP WEST FOR HOLLYWOOD FUTURITY
Kenneth E. Ellenberg's Tropicool, upset winner of the Grade II Remsen Stakes at
Aqueduct on Nov. 25, will be shipped to Hollywood Park for the $500,000 Hollywood
Futurity (Gr. I) on Dec. 17, according to stakes coordinator Doug Bredar.
Tropicool, a New York-bred by Carr de Naskra, has started six times with two wins, one second, two thirds and $214,600 in earnings. The colt is trained by John C. Kimmel, who has already won one of the meet's big stakes races for juvenile colts and geldings, the $250,000 Generous Stakes (Gr. III), with Old Chapel.
Tropicool, who will be supplemented for $25,000, is scheduled to arrive at Hollywood Park on Dec. 12.
Rapunzel Runz, a 4-year-old Explodent filly, owned by The Fox Hill Farm and trained by John C. Servis, is booked on the same flight as Tropicool. Rapunzel Run will start in the $100,000-added Dahlia Handicap (Gr. II) on Dec. 23.
FLORES TO MISS REST OF WEEK
Jockey David Flores will be sidelined at least through Sunday with tonsilitis.
Flores, tied for 11th in the standings with six victories, was scheduled to have his tonsils removed Thursday.
TIME CHANGE FOR HOLLYWOOD PARK HOTEL IMPLOSION
The demolition of the Park Hotel by means of implosion has been changed to
8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10.
The implosion of the Park Hotel -- located on the Northwest corner of the Hollywood Park property -- had previously been scheduled for 10 a.m. The time change was mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Due to the time change, the following training hours will be in effect on Sunday, Dec. 10 only:
5 a.m. to 7 a.m. -- track open for training.
7 a.m. to 9 a.m. -- track closed
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. -- track open for training.
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)