The CashCall Futurity is the final Grade 1 race to be run at Hollywood Park (Photo credit: betfairhollywoodpark.com)
There are just three graded stakes left in the history of Hollywood Park, and they will all be run on Saturday afternoon, featuring the final Grade 1 race, the $750,000 CashCall Futurity.
The racetrack will run its final day of racing on Sunday Dec. 22. The track opened in 1938 and hosted the very first Breeders’ Cup in 1984.
The first of the three graded stakes on Saturday’s card is the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) which drew a field of six that will go 1 ½ miles on turf. The two favorites are both exiting the Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine which was contested over yielding footing.
Temeraine is the 9-5 morning line favorite and was fifth in the Canadian International. The gelding has a win at the 1 ½-mile distance, taking the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) in September at Kentucky Downs.
Lucayan (5-2) was ninth in the Canadian International and last year’s 2000 Guineas (G1) winner is 0 for 6 since landing in the U.S. with Neil Drysdale.
The seventh race on the card is the $150,000 Native Diver (G3) which drew a wide-open field of nine that will go 1 1/8 miles on the Cushion Track.
The Jerry Hollendorfer trained Rousing Sermon is the 3-1 morning line favorite. The colt is coming into the race off a victory in the state bred On Trust Handicap going 7 ½ furlongs over the Cushion Track.
Hollendorfer also will saddle Hear the Ghost (4-1), who won the San Felipe (G2) back in March and is making his second start off the layoff.
The final graded race on the card and the meeting is the CashCall Futurity, which is not a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race this year, but drew a solid field that includes a couple of runners that ran in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
Let’s head out to Hollywood Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Betfair Hollywood Park Race 9 The CashCall Futurity G1 (Post time 4:35 PT)
5 Tap It Rich 9-2
2 Tamarando 4-1
6 Shared Belief 7-2
13 Kobe’s Back 9-2
Analysis: Tap It Rich was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last out which was his first start against winners. He was sent off as the 3-1 second choice off just a maiden win in his debut. The colt was off a step slow, was rank heading down the backstretch while trying to get out, raced wide into the stretch and did not have enough punch left late, beaten 3 1/4 lengths for the top spot by his stablemate New Year’s Day.
The colt was a good-looking maiden winner in his debut going a mile on the main track at Santa Anita, with the runner up Candy Boy a next out grad on Nov. 22 and is in here. The $510,000 Keeneland purchase is bred to like the fake stuff, by Tapit out of a Mr. Prospector mare that has dropped four other winners led by multiple graded stakes winner Adriano ($728,510). Trainer Bob Baffert has won this race six times including three of the last five. Our top pick has been working sharply since his last outing and still appears to have a ton of upside.
Tamarando is one of two in here sent out by the Jerry Hollendorfer barn. The colt is one of two Grade 1 winners in the field, winning the Del Mar Futurity back in September. Last out he came with a four wide run and finished strongly to win the Real Quiet here.
It looks as if he is going to get some pace to run at and just needs a clean trip to be right in the mix. He is a half to a couple of stakes winners, top earner Luckarack ($497,585).
Shared Belief is the other Hollendorfer runner in here and this guy may end up going off as the betting favorite. He has not been tested in two starts around one turn. He broke his maiden going seven furlongs at Golden Gate Fields in his debut and then last out won the Hollywood Prevue (G2) over a couple of runners he faces again today, drawing away to win by 7 3/4 lengths.
This will be is first trip around two turns, but he has enough pedigree to handle the extra ground. He is by Candy Ride out of a Storm Cat mare that has dropped six other winners including Grade 3 winner Little Miss Holly ($217,430). The barn is 24% winners moving runners from sprint to route.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,5,6,13
TRI: 2,5 / 2,5,6,13 / 2,3,5,6,13
