Mr. Commons 122 Pound Highweight Against 10 In American Handicap
Mr. Commons and jockey Mike Smith winning the Arcadia Stakes (GII), in February at Santa Anita. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 23, 2012)—Mr. Commons, who has been 1-2 in seven of his eight races on turf, will make his debut on the Betfair Hollywood Park course in the $150,000 American Handicap Saturday.
A Grade II at one mile, the American is the eighth of nine races. Post time is 1 p.m. Track gates at Betfair Hollywood Park will open at 9:55 a.m. for simulcasts.
Before the Saturday program begins, Doug O’Neill, the trainer of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another, will be Kurt Hoover’s guest on the Inside Scoop. The session will begin at 12 Noon at the Paddock Tote Board.
Trainer Doug O’Neill Special Inside Scoop Guest Saturday
Trainer Doug O'Neill
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 21, 2012)—Trainer Doug O’Neill, who is on the verge of making history after winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with I’ll Have Another, will be Kurt Hoover’s special guest on The Inside Scoop Saturday, May 26 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The winner of 10 training titles at Betfair Hollywood Park, O’Neill and Hoover will talk about the Michigan-born trainer’s career, what his life has been like after the successes at Churchill Downs and Pimlico as well as the upcoming Belmont Stakes June 9 at Belmont Park where I’ll Have Another will try to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Additionally, Hoover and O’Neill will discuss several races on the Betfair Hollywood Park card, including the Grade II, $150,000 American Handicap.
Halo Dolly Rebounds In Fran’s Valentine; Four Bagger For Leading Rider Bejarano
#1 Halo Dolly, under Joe Talamo, takes the
Fran's Valentine. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 20, 2012)—Halo Dolly was successful in her return to turf, wiring four opponents in the $71,750 Fran’s Valentine Stakes (video) Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Owned by a partnership that includes Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the 4-year-old Popular filly shook off 7-10 favorite Sugarinthemorning after six furlongs and went on to a 2 ½ length victory in a race restricted to California bred fillies and mares.
The win was the fifth in seven starts on grass for Halo Dolly, the 122-pound highweight and 17-10 second choice. Now 10-for-18 lifetime, the dark bay, who is out of the Comic Strip mare Spanish Halo, increased her earnings to $361,780. She completed the mile in 1:34.82.
$71,750 Fran’s Valentine Stakes - 17th Running - 1 Mile (Turf)
Jockey Quotes
JOE TALAMO, HALO DOLLY, Winner: “She relaxed so well for me today. I had a ton of horse down the backside. I was a little worried when Sugarinthemorning headed me at the three-eighths, but I knew I had a lot left in the tank. I want to thank the owners and Mr. (Jerry) Hollendorfer for putting me on her because I knew a lot of other jockeys wanted to ride.”
Trainer Quotes
Gutierrez Returns To Betfair Hollywood Park
Mario Gutierrez guides I'll Have Another to victory in the Preakness Stakes. © Jim McCue
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 20, 2012)—One day after he moved a step closer to history, jockey Mario Gutierrez was back at work at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Gutierrez, who delivered another flawless ride aboard I’ll Have Another in Saturday’s Preakness two weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby with the son of Flower Alley, failed to score with any of his four mounts Sunday while still savoring his achievement at Pimlico.
A native of Veracruz, Mexico, the 25-year-old rider is looking forward to collaborating again with the Betfair Hollywood Park-based I’ll Have Another in less than three weeks.
Trip Home For Gutierrez Exactly What He Needed
Mario Gutierrez. © Benoit Photo
Mario Gutierrez’s fairytale journey that has carried him to within one victory of the Triple Crown almost never happened. The 25-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico, who rode regularly at Hastings Park from 2006 -2011, was so homesick for Vancouver, British Columbia that he nearly left California despite having just won the Santa Anita Derby aboard I’ll Have Another.
When Troy Taylor, one of Hastings’ top trainers, brought a string down to Southern California last year, Gutierrez came along to ride first call. Though Taylor left a few horses behind, the trainer pulled up stakes in April and was heading back to his base for opening day at Hastings when the rider asked to join him.
Matt Jukich, Hastings intertrack television host who was on a busman’s holiday Friday at Betfair Hollywood Park, picks up the story. “He wanted to jump in the car with Troy,” said Jukich. “It was (prominent Canadian owner and longtime Gutierrez supporter) Glen Todd who convinced Gutierrez to stay and stick it out.
Super High 5 Carryover ($35,067) For Sunday
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 19, 2012)—There will be a Super High 5 carryover of $35,067 when racing resumes Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The Super High 5 is offered daily on the final race. There are nine races on the Betfair Hollywood Park program Sunday. Post time is 1 p.m.
Favored Include Me Out Wins Marjorie L. Everett; Via Villaggio ($23) Skims Fence To Take Railbird
Jay Em Ess Stable's Include Me Out and jockey Joseph Talamo win the Marjorie L. Everett Handicap. © Benoit Photo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 19, 2012)—Include Me Out remained perfect around two turns, winning the $150,000 Marjorie L. Everett Handicap (video) Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The three-quarters of a length victory as the 13-10 favorite was the third in a row – all in graded races – for the 4-year-old daughter of Include and the Mazel Trick mare Don’t Trick Me.
Trained by Ron Ellis for owner Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable, Include Me Out stalked the soft pace outside of 2-1 third choice Ellafitz for most of the journey, gained the lead early in the stretch and held sway under left handed urging from jockey Joe Talamo.
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