LUKAS TO SEND EXHILARATION IN SATURDAY'S MAKER'S MARK
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who took the inaugaral running of the Maker's Mark with Lady's Secret in 1984, sends Exhilaration in Saturday's $100,000-added stake for 2-year-old fillies.
Owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis, the daughter of Storm Cat broke her maiden in her second start, and comes off a third-place finish behind Starry Ice in the Anaokia Stakes on Oct. 16. Exhiliration will be piloted by Gary Stevens, who was in the irons for the Anaokia.
Post positions from the rail out for Saturday's $100,000-added Maker's Mark for 2-year-old fillies, to be run at seven furlongs on the main track: Clever Princess, Julio Garcia, 114; Exhilaration, Gary Stevens, 112; Guthrie, David Flores, 118, and High Heeled Hope, Alex Solis, 121.
THISNEARLYWASMINE ONE TO BEAT IN HOLLYWOOD
PREVUE
Trainer Randy Bradshaw holds a strong hand
with Thisnearlywasmine in Sunday's $100,000-added Hollywood
Prevue. The son of Capote could represent both the speed and
the horse to beat in the seven furlong contest.
"He's very fast," Bradshaw said. "He showed his speed in the Sunny Slopes, and that's breaking from the one-hole."
Thisnearlywasmine posted a 3/4-length victory over highly regarded In Excessive Bull, going six furlongs in 1:08 2/5 in the Oct. 23 stake at Santa Anita. Prior to the Sunny Slopes win, the bay colt finished fourth in the Hopeful (Gr. I) at Saratoga and third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (Gr. II) in Chicago.
"He's talented, but he isn't mature," Bradshaw said. "He looks like a 2-year-old. I think he'll grow and get bigger and stronger, but I don't know how much faster he can get."
Bradshaw feels his charge will relish the Hollywood strip.
"He broke his maiden really impressively at Hollywood," Bradshaw said, referring to his colt's 5 1/2-length win on July 14.
In other developments:
Trainer Bob Baffert said In Excessive Bull would work Friday at Santa Anita before making a decision on the Prevue.
Trainer Mel Stute was informed Wednesday that his Hollywood Futurity (Gr. I) nominee Golden Bronze was automatically nominated to Sunday's race. "In that case, we'll have to take a look," Stute responded. Golden Bronze most recently ran Sunday at Bay Meadows, where he finished second by a head in the $50,000-added The Don B.
Probables for Sunday's $100,000-added Hollywood Prevue (Gr. III), for 2-year-olds to be run at seven furlongs on the main track: Constant Demand, Eddie Delahoussaye; Robynhood, Corey Nakatani; Stolen Gold, no rider, and Thisnearlywasmine, Chris McCarron.
Possible: In Excessive Bull, no rider; Golden Bronze, no rider, and Vermillion, no rider.
DOLLASE BARN AIMS FOR HOLLYWOOD STAKES
Trainer Wally Dollase, who saddled Jewel Princess to capture the $1-million Breeders' Cup Distaff, has his stable primed for Hollywood Park's stakes schedule.
Dollase will send Alyrob in the Lazaro S. Barrera (Gr. III) on Nov. 17, and has Windsharp, Helmsman and Wild Zone aimed for the Turf Festival.
Alyrob was given the summer off following his eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (Gr. I), and most recently finished second in an Oct. 18 allowance race at Santa Anita. Dollase also has not ruled out the Hollywood Derby (Gr. I), which comes two weeks after the Barrera.
Windsharp, who finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr. I), will be pointed to the $700,000 Matriarch (Gr. I) on Dec. 1. Helmsman, most recently sixth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr. I), will be pointed for the Citation Handicap (Gr. II) on Nov. 30.
Wild Zone is a recent addition to the Dollase barn, who was sent down from Canada from owner Frank Stronach. The turf sprinter finished second behind Comininalittlehot in the Morvich Hanidcap on Oct. 27 in his first start for Dollase.
"He's a real runner," Dollase said. "The five-and-a-half furlongs in the (Hollywood) Turf Express is perfect for him."
MUG GIVEAWAY FRIDAY NIGHT
Hollywood Park will celebrate the return of $1 Friday Nights with a collector's mug giveaway. The 14-ounce mug commemorates two of racing's greatest athletes -- the incomparable Bill Shoemaker and 1978 Hollywood Park Gold Cup winner, Exceller. The artwork on the glass is a reproduction of an original painting by renowned equine artist Fred Stone.
Dollar Friday nights feature $1 admission for patrons 30 and under, and $1 hot dogs, $1 beers and $1 sodas for everyone in attendance. Friday night's first live race is 7 p.m.
HOLLYWOOD TO DEBUT FRIDAY NIGHT COLLEGE AREA
Hollywood Park will unveil Longshots, a new college area for racing fans 30 and under on Friday night. The special area, complete with two bars, a dance floor and big screen televisions, will hold live bands and deejays on Friday nights.
Longshots is located on the fourth floor of the grandstand in the Super Mezzanine Area. Admission is free for ages 30 and under, and $4 for those 31 and up.
FINISH LINES: Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye will ride three or four horses Saturday, and resume riding fully on Sunday, according to agent Terry Lipham . . . Play Waki For Me worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 in preparation for Monday's $60,000-added Precisionist . . . Paying Dues, second in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Sprint, breezed four furlongs in :50 2/5 Thursday morning at Santa Anita. . . Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (Gr. II) winner Savinio breezed four furlongs in :47 4/5 at Santa Anita . . . Trainer Richard Mandella said Talloires would pass the Japan Cup and prepare for the Hollywood Turf Cup (Gr. I) on Dec. 15. Talloires finished second behind Royal Chariot in the race last year.
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/)