$150,250 American Handicap - Grade II - 74th Running - 1 Mile (Turf)
Jockey Quotes
JOE TALAMO, OBVIOUSLY, Winner: “He just did it so easy. Besides California Flag sprinting, I’ve never ridden a horse like this going long. He just lopes along like that. With him going (46.09 seconds for the first half mile) today, I almost made the sign of the cross. That’s like 47 4/5 for any other horse. The main hope is to try to get him back to the Breeders’ Cup. At the three-eighths pole I just kind of gave him his head and hopefully tried to steal the race from there. He’s a jockey’s dream. You just sit on him and he does the rest. He’s just a tremendous horse.”
JULIEN LEPAROUX, LUCAYAN, Second: “He ran big. That was a good first race in the country. The winner is a good horse. He’s probably going to be able to run a little farther, too.”
Egg Drop Enjoys Switch To Turf In Friday Feature
Egg Drop, under Martin Garcia, wins the Friday feature. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 24, 2013)—Egg Drop was successful in her turf debut, winning the $57,842 feature Friday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Switching surfaces and cutting back in distance after a subpar performance in the restricted Santa Lucia Stakes April 14 at Santa Anita, the gray daughter of Alphabet Soup prevailed by three-quarters of a length after a pace pressing trip under jockey Martin Garcia.
Moved to the outside of early leader Nihilist down the backstretch, Egg Drop gained the advantage early in the stretch, then withstood a challenge from the inside by 5-2 favorite Hidinginplainsight inside the final sixteenth of a mile.
Lady Of Shamrock Heads Quality Field In Gamely; Comma To The Top Takes On Six In Los Angeles `Cap
Lady of Shamrock and jockey Mike Smith win the Grade I American Oaks. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 24, 2013)—Lady of Shamrock, who earned the first Grade I victory of her career in the 2012 American Oaks, will try to add another to her resume in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes Monday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
A 1 1/8 mile turf race for older fillies and mares, the Gamely, the first Grade I offered at the 2013 Spring/Summer meet, is part of a Memorial Day stakes doubleheader. The 10-race card also features the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap, a Grade III for older horses at six furlongs over Cushion Track.
The 47th renewal of the Gamely goes as the ninth race while the 61st Los Angeles is the fourth.
Added Distance No Problem For Marinda
Rafael Bejarano guides Marinda to victory in the Thursday feature. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 23, 2013)—Stretching out for the first time in nearly a year, Marinda was successful for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, winning the $56,074 feature Thursday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Positioned perfectly throughout by leading jockey Rafael Bejarano, Marinda, the 8-5 favorite in the field of 12, won for the second time in eight starts and increased her earnings to $112,910.
Owned by breeder Ran Jan Racing, Inc., the 4-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy and the Soft Gold mare Bella Bella Bella completed the one mile on turf in 1:35.05. She paid $5.20, $4.40 and $3.
Stevens Looking Forward To Return To Betfair Hollywood Park
Gary Stevens. © Benoit Photo
The last time Gary Stevens rode at Betfair Hollywood Park, he guided Alphabet Kisses to victory in the 2005 A Gleam Invitational Handicap.
“I didn’t know that,’’ said Stevens in response to the information.
Alphabet Kisses is long retired, but Stevens is in the midst of a highly successful comeback which began in January and continues over the Memorial Day weekend. The biggest of the mounts for the Hall of Famer is the Tom Proctor-trained Marketing Mix in the Grade I, $250,000 Gamely Stakes.
Schiaparelli Versus Five In Great Lady M. Stakes
Schiaparelli broke her maiden in her debut June 19, 2011 at Betfair Hollywood Park. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 23, 2013)—Schiaparelli, runner-up to 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champion – and stablemate – Mizdirection in the Las Cienegas Stakes last month, will try for her second win over the Betfair Hollywood Park grass in the $70,000 Great Lady M. Stakes Sunday.
A six furlong event for older fillies and mares, the Great Lady M. is the seventh of nine races. Post time Sunday is 1 p.m. Track gates will open at 9:55 a.m. for simulcasts.
Trained by Mike Puype for breeder Ran Jan Racing, Inc., Schiaparelli was defeated by a half-length by Mizdirection in the Grade III April 13 at Santa Anita. She was collared near the wire after having a two length lead with an eighth of a mile to run.
Obviously Stretches Out In American Handicap
Obviously and jockey Joseph Talamo win the Arroyo Seco Mile, Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Santa Anita. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 22, 2013)—A double Grade II winner in 2012, Obviously will seek his first victory of 2013 in the $150,000 American Handicap Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
A Grade II for older horses at one mile on turf, the American Handicap is the third of nine races. Post time Saturday is 1 p.m. Gates at Betfair Hollywood Park will open at 9:55 a.m. for simulcasts.
This will also be the third of nine Saturdays during the meet offering a guaranteed Pick Six pool of $150,000.
Iotapa Provides Talamo Another Stakes Win In Railbird
Iotapa and jockey Joe Talamo win the Railbird Stakes. © Benoit
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 19, 2013)—Jockey Joe Talamo completed a weekend stakes sweep Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park with a victory aboard favored Iotapa in the $74,920 Railbird (video).
Shortening up after finishing second behind Beholder – the 2-year-old filly champion of 2012 – in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks April 6, Iotapa was reserved off the pace, rallied outside Tres Belle and pacesetter Hail Mary around the turn and went on to win by 1 ¼ lengths over Ciao Bella Luna.
Iotapa’s third win in four starts came a day after Talamo captured the $150,250, Grade II Marjorie L. Everett Handicap with 9-1 outsider Open Water and the $100,500 Fran’s Valentine Stakes with 9-2 shot Unusual Hottie.
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