After coming up short in two previous prep races for the $700,000 TVG/Betfair Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), Rail Trip put it all together when he rolled to victory July 11 at the Inglewood track.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Owner-breeder Marty Wygod is spending the week in Canada on a fishing trip before returning in hopes of hooking the big one -- the $700,000 TVG/Betfair Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on July 11.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Trainer Doug O'Neill, perfect in four previous tries in the TVG/Betfair Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), shoots for his fifth win since 2002 when he saddles Informed for the $700,000 Cushion Track event July 11.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Parading, winner of the Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Pimlico turf May 16, is expected to run next July 11 in the $700,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I).
Thursday, June 25, 2009
McCann's Mojave, fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup, took a step toward the Aug. 24 Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar the morning of Aug. 10 with a sizzling six-furlong move in 1:10.60 at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Steve Specht.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Tyler Baze was supposed to be aboard three-time Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Lava Man for this year's 69th running. But when the veteran stakes hero was withdrawn prior to entries being taken, the jockey wound up on lightly regarded Mast Track. The move couldn't have worked out better for Baze when his 10-1 outsider employed front-running tactics to win in a Cushion Track record time June 28.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Heatseeker, the 7-5 morning line favorite for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, will be scratched from Saturday's race due to a filling in his left front ankle, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said June 27.
Friday, June 27, 2008
While the focus of the 2008 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) is rightfully on the powerhouse grade I victors Heatseeker and Tiago, there are seven graded winners in the field of 10 for the 1 1/4-mile classic.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
With the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) to be run Saturday, the question is, can anyone beat Heatseeker, who has emerged as the top older horse in the West and a major threat in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) run over a synthetic track, which he apparently loves?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Millennium Farms' Student Council, a grade I winner on dirt and synthetic surfaces, will make his next start in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Lava Man, who tied Native Diver's record of three straight Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) victories last year, won't be going for a fourth one on June 28.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Longtime California steward Pete Pedersen has been named the winner of the 2008 Laffit Pincay Jr. Award. He will be honored June 28 when the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) is run for the 69th time.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Heatseeker established himself as the favorite for this year's Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) with a scintillating victory as the even-money choice in the $245,000 Californian (gr. II) over the Cushion Track surface May 31. The 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway defeated his rival Tiago by 5 1/4 lengths while setting a record for the 1 1/8-mile distance on the Inglewood track.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Lava Man, who worked six furlongs under regular exercise rider Tony Romero in 1:14 2/5 at Hollywood Park April 5, is "on target" to make his 2008 debut in the $150,000 Khaled Stakes April 27, according to trainer Doug O'Neill.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Lava Man, who is gearing up for a 2008 campaign to add to his career earnings of $5,214,706, had his first recorded workout of the year at Hollywood Park Wednesday morning, March 12, for trainer Doug O'Neill.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Lava Man is back at the Doug O'Neill barn at Hollywood Park to prepare for a 2008 campaign.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Warren Stute, a popular Thoroughbred trainer on the Southern California circuit for nearly 70 years, died Thursday at his home in Arcadia, Calif. He was 85.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Favored Lava Man joined the legendary Native Diver as the only horse to win the prestigious Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) in three consecutive years when he prevailed by a nose over the gritty A. P. Xcellent in a heart-pounding stretch duel Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Lava Man, attempting to match legendary Native Diver with his third consecutive victory in Saturday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), will face eight rivals in the 1 1/4-mile classic at Hollywood Park.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, the national earnings leader with more than $12 million in purses, seeks to pad those figures with an invasion of Hollywood Park for the three richest races of the meet the next two weekends.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Lava Man, despite six grade I victories on dirt and grass and earnings of over $4.7 million, has had his knockers, because of his inability to win, or even run well, outside of California. But, on Saturday, he will be home and attempting to make history by equaling Native Diver's record three Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) wins.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Lava Man, who can match legendary Native Diver with a third consecutive victory in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I) June 30, has been assigned high weight of 124 pounds for the 1 1/4-mile classic.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
"NTRA Summer Racing - "Powered by Dodge," seven shows featuring 16 races, will air on the ESPN networks beginning June 30, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced June 13.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Favorite Buzzards Bay, under strong urging from jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., gamely held off the late charging 25-1 shot Sun Boat to win the $250,000 Californian (gr. II) by a nose on the Cushion Track Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Trainer Richard Mandella says he's toying with the idea of running The Tin Man in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) following the 9-year-old gelding's impressive win in the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Monday.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Lava Man could return to competition for the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) June 30, while quarter cracks have delayed the comeback of juvenile champion Stevie Wonderboy, trainer Doug O'Neill reported May 9.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Victor Espinoza had a nice fallback when Cobalt Blue was withdrawn from Saturday's Kentucky Derby (gr. I), instead riding Molengao to a convincing 4 1/2-length win in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
In an agreement with Lingfield Park Racecourse in Surrey, England, Hollywood Park will issue an invitation to the winner of the 2007 Winter Derby (Eng-III) to participate in the 68th running of the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on June 30.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Wednesday that television viewership for the first four shows of its "Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships -- Powered by Dodge" was up 45% over last year's numbers.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Lava Man, a former claiming horse, became the first runner since Native Diver in 1967 to win back-to-back editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) when he won a heart-pounding finish by a nose Saturday over the longest shot in the field, Ace Blue.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Seek Gold, 91-1 upset winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) in his last start, arrived at Hollywood Park from Louisville on Wednesday afternoon with a new giant to slay – Lava Man in Saturday's Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I).
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Dynamic California-bred Lava Man, on a four-race winning streak, was assigned 124 pounds for Saturday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I). But after everything the 5-year-old gelding has accomplished this year, that probably wasn't enough -- just four rivals are signed on to challenge him.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Seek Gold, upset winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 17, turned in a sparkling five furlong work on Sunday at Churchill Downs in preparation for an expected start in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) July 8. Likely favorite Lava Man was assigned 124 pounds for the 1 1/4-mile event.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Dixie Meister, who had never won a race outside of Texas, established himself as a contender for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) with a one-length victory over Super Frolic in the $250,000 Californian (gr. II) on Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Hollywood Park has released its $9.475 million stakes schedule for its spring/summer meet that begins April 26. There are 31 graded races on the schedule.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Dogwood Stable's Limehouse, recent winner of Belmont Park's Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II), is the likely favorite as he attempts to become the first Eastern-based horse since Skip Away in 1998 to capture Hollywood Park's signature event, the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), on Saturday.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Musique Toujours, upset winner of the Sunshine Millions Classic in January, worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 Monday for Saturday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I).
Monday, July 04, 2005
Dogwood Stable's millionaire Limehouse, winner of the Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II), will run next in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) July 9, going 1 1/4 miles at Hollywood Park.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Pollard's Vision and Offlee Wild, a pair of graded stakes winners based in New York, are under strong consideration for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I) July 9, Hollywood Park stakes coordinator Dan Eidson said Sunday.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
By Ray Paulick - The good old days? They weren't that long ago for horse racing fans in Southern California.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), one of the nation's premier races since Seabiscuit won the inaugural running in 1938, will be returned to its handicap status for the 66th running on July 9.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
"It's really wonderful when you make a tactical plan and it works out like a dream," said trainer Laura de Seroux Sunday, still on cloud nine at her San Luis Rey Downs base after winning the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Saturday with Total Impact.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
The Chilean-bred Total Impact rewarded the constant faith in him displayed by trainer Laura de Seroux, ending a seven-race losing streak with an upset victory in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Saturday.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Laffit Pincay Jr. will visit Hollywood Park to make the presentation of the inaugural Laffit Pincay Jr. Award, which will be presented annually on Hollywood Gold Cup Day to a person who has served the sport with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and distinction.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
The $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), from Hollywood Park will highlight Saturday's "Road to the World Thoroughbred Championships Powered by Dodge" on ESPN2, airing between 8-9 p.m. Also on tap is same day coverage of the $300,000 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) and a recap of the six-race Summit of Speed from Calder Race Course in Miami.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Even the Score, the probable favorite for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on Saturday, completed drills for the 1 1/4-mile race with a five-furlong work in 1:00 Monday at Hollywood Park.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I), and Even The Score, winner of the 2004 Meryvn LeRoy Handicap and Californian (both gr. II), head a list of 12 nominations to the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on July 10.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
"Road to the World Thoroughbred Championships Powered by Dodge," a four-month, 17-program series, returns on the ESPN networks beginning July 4 with taped coverage of last Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby from The Curragh in Ireland.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Southern Image will be forced to miss the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on July 10 because of a foot injury, Mike Machowsky reported Sunday from his Santa Anita training base.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Hollywood Park, site of Laffit Pincay Jr.'s record victory No. 8,834, has named an award in honor of the Hall of Fame jockey, who retired with a record 9,530 victories in 2003.
Thursday, June 24, 2004