Las Vegas, NV – Betfair Hollywood Park will be the scene of the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Saturday, December 14. A purse of $250,000 will be on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to go 1 1/2 miles on Hollywood Park’s turf track.
A field of just six will line up in the Hollywood Turf Cup – race 3 on Hollywood Park’s busy Saturday card. Post time is 1:30 PM. Let’s take a brief glance into the past performances of all six combatants for this Grade 2 stakes.
Lucayan – French bred colt and Group 1 winner in her native land made his North American debut with a very nice second in the Grade 2 American Handicap May 25 right behind Obviously after eight starts in France produced three wins and two second place finishes including a win at 27-1 odds in the group 1 French 2000 Guineas May 13, 2012 at Longchamp. He had a disappointing ninth last time out in the Grade 1 Pattison International in October after a third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship September 29, a nice second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap August 25 and a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming August 1. He now has three wins, four seconds and two third place finishes in 14 career starts and will be looking for his first North American win and for a strong rebound after a sub-par outing in Canada last time out. Lucayan looks like the best of an average field for the Hollywood Turf Cup and will have Joel Rosario in the saddle for the first time Saturday.
Temeraine – is coming off a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International October 27 after his best career win in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup September 14. He also had a respectable fifth in the Grade 1 Arlington Millions August 17 and a very nice second behind Rahystrata in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap. He has been successful on a number of tracks back east and tries his luck in California Saturday. Legendary jockey Gary Stevens gets the call Saturday.
Segway – Richard Mandella trained gelding is coming off an Allowance Optional Claiming score by 1 1/2 lengths October 27 after failing to place in his previous three starts. He steps up into stakes company for the first time Saturday with a bit of optimism behind him. Mike Smith gets the mount.
Artic North – Peter Miller trained gelding has five career starts with two wins – an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Santa Anita October 10 after a MSW win at Del Mar in September. Last time out was a sixth in his graded stakes debut – the Grade 3 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct November 16. Artic North will seek his first stakes win Saturday with Joe Talamo in the saddle.
Hollywood Turf Cup betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Huntsville – has 14 starts this year – zero wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. He did have a good third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in August but hasn’t looked good since – a tenth in the Grade 3 Eddie D and a tenth in the minor Lure Stakes October 27 are among the poor results. Huntsville has 35 career starts with three wins, seven seconds and three third place finishes and stretches out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time since a last place finish in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes in March.
Irish Surf – had a two race win streak in the summer including a MSW on this track in July but has struggled in his last three starts – a ninth last time out in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby here December 1, a seventh in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby November 1 and a ninth in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita September 29. Irish Surf has just two wins, a second and four third place finishes in 13 career starts.
Leave feedback about this