Hollywood Notebook

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HOLLYWOOD PARK NOTEBOOK

JUNE 27, 2012

by John Mucciolo

A pair of graded affairs highlighted the weekend at Hollywood Park.

Hollywood Oaks (G2): Scardino and Fanticola's POTESTA took a short lead nearing midstretch and gamely out-dueled a Grade 1 winner to the wire in posting her first graded score for trainer Mike Mitchell. The talented sophomore got 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 1/5 under the guidance of Joe Talamo.

Beverly Hills H. (G3): Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer et al's CAPITAL PLAN tracked in second, took a short lead in early stretch and then held off a big late challenge to bag this race under Joel Rosario. The surging four-year-old endured 1 1/4 miles on the firm lawn in 2:04 1/5 to post the nose victory.

Track Stats

From a total of 34 races held at the Inglewood, California, racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 35 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 68 percent of the wins. From 24 frays contested on the Cushion oval, eight animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (33 percent), while none of the 10 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead.

The weekend was best for speed types on the main oval, with five winners leading at every call from a total of 12 races from Saturday through Sunday. With that said, we thought the main oval played fairly for the week.

The turf saw no wire-to-wire winners, but at least a few who tracked in second or third in the early going. Late runners seemed to have just as much chance to win as any other running style did on this fair oval.

Meet Totals

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (6/21)

2ND -- SPEEDINTHRUTHECITY was very sharp in this debut win for trainer Peter Miller, who has been hot with youngsters at this meeting. This filly, who was facing the boys at first asking, sat a nice trip in third before taking over in the lane to beat a live one in a fast time. Miller seems to have a knack with the progeny of City Zip, as well.

7TH -- GLAMORISTA had her stable companion measured throughout this one and proved best in a fine tally over a filly who adores this oval. The Bob Baffert trainee should be stakes bound soon.

Friday (6/22)

5TH -- CAPITAL ACCOUNT finally got a clean trip and showed what he can do, in rolling home a convincing winner for Baffert. The five-year-old continues to run big and is another show should have a stakes appointment very soon.

7TH -- BOAT TRIP returns to this list once again after yet another fine performance on the lawn. The Mike Pender trainee proved capable stretching out in here and has a very bright future on the green.

Saturday (6/23)

4TH -- STANWYCK rallied from last to be a strong second in the late stages of what we thought could be a very solid field. The John Shirreffs trainee showed no early speed but was clearly second best behind what could turn out to be a fine winner. This one should also improve with more ground to work with.

Sunday (6/24)

2ND -- JET BLUE GIRL proved to be tons the best in this field, and could turn out to be a solid claim for conditioner Doug O'Neill.

4TH -- OCTANE was very impressive to us in here, waiting patiently and surging late once clear in a fine tally for trainer Bruce Headley. The four-year-old has fired in each lifetime try and got his final quarter mile in a swift :22 4/5.

9TH -- COTTON'S POINT couldn't catch the winner in this finale, but finished more than eight lengths clear of third and shouldn't be a maiden for long for trainer Jeff Bonde.

A Look Ahead

Saturday marks a big day of racing at Hollywood Park with a pair of Grade 1 events, the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile and $250,000 Triple Bend H. (G1), on tap.

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