Congaree Works Toward Hollywood Gold Cup

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Stonerside Stable's Congaree was confirmed as a starter for Sunday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup by trainer Bob Baffert after the 5-year-old son of Arazi worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 handily over the fast main track at Hollywood Park Tuesday morning.

Jockey Mike Smith was aboard for the move, which was the sixth-fastest of 22 horses who went the distance on the day.

Congaree finished sixth in his last start, the May 26 Metropolitan Mile (gr. I), after banging his stifle hard on the starting gate at the start of the race. He also won the Carter Handicap (gr. I), San Antonio Handicap (gr. II) and San Pasqual Handicap (gr. II) earlier this year and was second by a head to Milwaukee Brew in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) at the same distance as Sunday's Gold Cup. He is undefeated in one start at Hollywood Park, having won the 2001 Swaps Stakes (gr. I).

Overall Congaree has earned $2,283,400 from 10 wins, a second and four thirds in 19 career starts. Twice classic-placed, he won last year's Cigar Mile (gr. I), Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) and Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III). He also won the 2001 Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. II) and has placed in five other graded events.

Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey will be back aboard Congaree in the Gold Cup, which is expected to feature a field of five or six other runners, including Harlan's Holdiay, Kudos, Piensa Sonando, Golden Ticket and Western Pride.

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