THE $700,000 MATRIARCH -- THE RACE FOR THE ECLIPSE
DOLLASE CONFIDENT IN IMPROVED WINDSHARP FOR NEXT SUNDAY'S MATRIARCH
This year, trainer Wally Dollase has a known quantity in his mare Windsharp, who heads into Sunday's $700,000 Matriarch (Gr. I) seeking an Eclipse Award. The daughter of Lear Fan will try to improve on last year's performance in which she dead-heated for fourth as a $30,000 supplement making her second start for the Dollase barn.
"I didn't know anything about her last year," Dollase said. "She was a little rank on the backside or she might have won."
The 5-year-old mare finished only 1 1/4 lengths behind Duda in last year's classic.
Windsharp comes into The Matriarch off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr. I), in which Japan Cup winner Singspiel ran second.
"He sure makes Windsharp look good," Dollase said.
Windsharp has beaten the boys twice this year, scoring victories in the San Luis Obispo Handicap (Gr. II) and San Luis Rey Stakes (Gr. I). Remarkably, The Matriarch will mark her eighth start of the year, but her first against females.
"Now we just let her do her own thing," Dollase said. "She just keeps getting better and better."
In other developments:
Alpride drilled seven furlongs in 1:24 2/5 over the Santa Anita main track. Stablemate Olimpia Dukakis went the same distance in 1:26 4/5.
Hollywood Dream is scheduled to arrive in Southern California on Monday.
Probables for the next Sunday's 16th running of the $700,000 Matriarch, for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles over the turf: Alpride, Chris McCarron; Auriette, no rider; Bail Out Becky, no rider; De Puntillas, Kent Desormeaux; Dixie Pearl, Rene Douglas; Duda, Gary Stevens; Hollywood Dream (s), Cash Asmussen; Memories Of Silver (s), Robbie Davis; Olimpia Dukakis, Alex Solis; Real Connection (s), Laffit Pincay Jr.; Timarida, John Murtagh; Wandesta, Corey Nakatani, and Windsharp, Eddie Delahoussaye.
Possible: Admise, no rider.
TIMARIDA WORKS SEVEN FURLONGS FOR MATRIARCH
Timarida drilled seven furlongs in 1:28 4/5 over Hollywood Park's yielding turf in preparation for her first start in this country since her impressive victory in the Beverly D (Gr. I).
"I was very happy with her out there," said assistant trainer Jimmy O'Neill, who was up for the work. "She does a lot of it herself out there."
Timarida followed about three lengths behind a workmate until turning for home, when she circled the other horse and drew off by a considerable margin.
"The other horse was just a lead horse," O'Neill said. "She's not used to working alone, so we have someone lead her around."
LE TRITON, MARLIN INVADE FOR $500,000 CROWN ROYAL HOLLYWOOD DERBY
Le Triton, a Group 1 winner in France, and Marlin, victor of the Secretariat Stakes (Gr. I), will lead a competitive field of 3-year-olds in the 56th running of the $500,000 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby (Gr. I).
In other developments:
Jirhan zipped six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 at Santa Anita.
Mystic Knight went six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 over the Hollywood turf.
Astor Place drilled one mile in 1:42 2/5 over the lawn.
Rainbow Blues worked six panels in 1:13 4/5 over the grass.
New York New York is scheduled to arrive from Europe on Tuesday.
Probables for the $500,000 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby, to be run next Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1 1/8 miles over the turf: Astor Place (s), Cash Asmussen; Currency Arbitrage, no rider; Devil's Cup, no rider; Jirhan, Alex Solis; Lago (s), no rider; Le Triton (s), no rider; Marlin, no rider; Mystic Knight, no rider; New York New York, no rider; Ok by Me, no rider; Rainbow Blues, Corey Nakatani; Take A Left (s), no rider; The Barking Shark, Michael Hunter, and True Flare, Gary Stevens.
Possible: Trail City, no rider; Ocean Queen, no rider.
HOLLYPARK UMBRELLA GIVEAWAY ON MATRIARCH, DERBY DAY
Fans attending The Track of the Lakes and Flowers on Sunday, Dec. 1 -- final day of the $2.15-million Turf Festival, featuring the $700,000 Matriarch and $500,000 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby -- will receive a free Hollywood Park umbrella with a paid admission while supplies last.
The sleek black and white paneled umbrella -- equipped with an automatic opener, quality water-resistant nylon, protective tips and a simulated wood horse head handle -- features a specially-designed Hollywood Park illustration.
TURF FESTIVAL WEEK POST TIMES
Wednesday, Nov. 27 12:30 p.m.
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28 11 a.m.
Friday, Nov. 29 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1 12:30 p.m.
ELTISH LOOKS TO FULFILL PROMISE IN SATURDAY'S $300,000 CITATION
Juddmonte Farm's Eltish popped on the scene in the fall of 1994, running second to Timber Country in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Gr. I) at Churchill Downs. The son of Cox's Ridge returned the next spring with Kentucky Derby (Gr. I) aspirations, but finished eighth in the Run for the Roses.
The highly-regarded colt was winless in five starts last year, and has only an allowance victory to claim of in 1996. The 4-year-old will seek to gain his first U.S. stakes win in Saturday's $300,000 Citation Handicap (Gr. II).
"Eltish is training good and is ready for the Citation," trainer Bobby Frankel said. "He's run a few good races this year. He's been a little disappointing, but he's a tough horse to ride."
In other developments:
Via Lombardia worked seven furlongs in 1:28 over the Hollywood turf course.
Gentlemen drilled seven furlongs in 1:30 on the local lawn.
Helmsman went six furlongs over the turf in 1:14 2/5.
Eltish zipped six furlongs in 1:13 1/5, drilling over the grass course.
Beau Jingles, a $17,500 supplemental entry, went six furlongs in 1:14 1/5 over the turf.
Probables for the $300,000 Citation Handicap (Gr. II), to be run Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 1/8 miles on the turf: Beau Jingles (s), no rider; Eltish, Kent Desormeaux; Gentlemen, Gary Stevens; Helmsman, Chris McCarron; Silver Wizard, Julio Garcia, and Via Lombardia, Eddie Delahoussaye.
Possible: Smooth Runner, no rider.
WILD ZONE MAKES FINAL START IN FRIDAY'S HOLLYWOOD TURF EXPRESS
Frank Stronach's Wild Zone prepares to make his final run in Friday's $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express (Gr. III). The son of Wild Again, who finished second in the Morvich Handicap at Santa Anita, will be making his second start for trainer Wally Dollase.
"He goes to stud in Kentucky following this race," Dollase said. "I've only had him for these two races, but that's been the plan all along."
The 6-year-old heads into the Hollywood Turf Express with nine wins, six seconds, two thirds and earnings of $509,973 from 26 starts.
In other developments:
Ski Dancer went five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 over the Hollywood turf.
Sandtrap drilled four furlongs in :48 4/5 over the lawn.
Probables for the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express, to be run Friday, Nov. 29 at 5 1/2 furlongs over the turf: Ali'lbito'reality, no rider; Cyrano Storme, Rene Douglas; Promising Wonder, Brice Blanc; Sandtrap, Alex Solis; Ski Dancer, no rider; Suggest, Kent Desormeaux; Track Gal (s), Chris McCarron, and Wild Zone, Eddie Delahoussaye.
ENGLISH IMPORT FALKENHAM HEADS $250,000 GENEROUS STAKES ON SATURDAY
Falkenham, Michael Harte's English import who finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Gr. I), heads the list of probables for 15th running of the Generous. Eight supplemental entries of $10,000 each have swelled the probable field, demonstrating the wide open quality of the contest.
In other developments:
Play Waki For Me drilled five furlongs in 1:01 3/5.
Probables for the $250,000 Generous Stakes (Gr. III), to be run Saturday at one mile on the turf: Bagshot (s), Alex Solis; Churchland (s), Julio Garcia; Daylight in Dubai (s), no rider; Demolition Man (s), no rider; Divine Insight, Kent Desormeaux; Falkenham (s), Eddie Delahoussaye; Hello (s), Chris McCarron; Oakhurst, Michael Hunter; Play Waki for Me, Rene Douglas; Serotonin (s), Gary Stevens; Steel Ruhlr, no rider, and Zippersup, no rider.
Possible: Swiss Yodeler, no rider.
CRITICAL FACTOR, MONTECITO TO CLASH IN FRIDAY'S $200,000 MIESQUE STAKES
Critical Factor, third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Gr. I), and Montecito, winner of the Jim Hill Stakes on opening day head the sixth running of the Miesque.
In other developments:
Clever Pilot zipped five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.
Wealthy drilled five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 over the Hollywood turf course.
Rexy Sexy went five panels in 1:04 3/5 on the grass.
Montecito went four furlongs in :50 2/5 over the main track at Santa Anita.
Probables for the $200,000 Miesque Stakes (Gr. III), to be run Friday at one mile over the turf: Ascutney, Eddie Delahoussaye; Clever Pilot, Julio Garcia; Cozzy Flyer, no rider; Critical Factor, Alex Solis; Montecito (s), Gary Stevens; Pun (s), no rider; Rexy Sexy, Kent Desormeaux, and Wealthy, Chris McCarron.
JAPAN CUP RESULTS AND REACTION
Sunday's Japan Cup was won by Singspiel, who was coming off a second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf. The complete order of finish: Singspiel; Fabulous La Fouine; dead-heat
Strategic Choice and Helissio; Awad; Taiki Fortune; Hishi Natalie; Pentire; Flag Down; Dance Partner; Go Go Z; Yu Sensho; Bubble Gum Fellow; Kanetsu Cross, and Sakura Keizan O. Saintly was a late scratch.
"He's a great horse," said Gary Stevens, who piloted Singspiel in the Breeders' Cup. "He's had three big trips now and run well every time. He can run on any kind of turf."
FINISH LINES: Larry The Legend worked three furlongs in :38 1/5 at Santa Anita . . . Cal Cup Classic winner Megan's Interco breezed three furlongs in :36 2/5 at Santa Anita . . . Dr. Caton drilled five furlongs in :59 3/5 at Santa Anita . . . Del Mar Futurity (Gr. II) winner Silver Charm clicked off five furlongs in 1:00 . . . Sharp Cat zipped six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 at Santa Anita.
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