What a Song Makes Stakes Debut at Hollywood

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(from Hollywood Park notes)
Bob and Beverly Lewis, whose horses have won six Triple Crown races, will get a feel for the Triple Crown potential of their $1.9-million purchase What a Song, who makes his stakes debut in Saturday's $100,000-added Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III) at Hollywood Park.

What a Song, a 2-year-old son of Songandaprayer   whose purchase price established a record at the Barretts March Sale earlier this year, likely will be a slight favorite in the six-furlong event. The race has spawned two Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners including Affirmed, the last Triple Crown champion in 1978.

Trained by Bob Baffert, What a Song vindicated pre-race hype by handily winning his maiden debut by 3 1/4 lengths at Hollywood Park on June 18 while running 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03 4/5 under Victor Espinoza.

His competition among four opponents in the Juvenile is headed by Bashert, another Florida-bred who covered 5 1/2 furlongs in a faster 1:03 2/5 when breaking his maiden by five lengths on June 5. The Tiger Ridge colt, trained and co-owned by William Currin, raced greenly when finishing third in his first start on May 14.

What a Song has posted two fast workouts since winning his racing debut. Baffert, despite his success with young horses, will be seeking his first Hollywood Juvenile victory. D. Wayne Lukas, who has no entrant this year, has won the event seven times.

$100,000-added Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III), 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. Stevie Wonderboy, Garrett Gomez, 115
2. Double Parked, Alex Solis, 117
3. What a Song, Victor Espinoza, 117
4. Bashert, Rene Douglas, 117
5. Blaze It, Felipe Martinez, 117

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