Capital Plan appears to be standout in the $100,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIIT) as she returns to the 10-furlong distance for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer June 24 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The 4-year-old filly by Rock Hard Ten, co-owned by Hollendorfer and Dr. Mark Dedomenico, makes her first start since finishing a close third in the 1 1/8-mile Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood May 28. Capital Plan had taken an early lead in the Gamely but could not hold off Belle Royale while losing by one length in a game effort. Capital Plan is a four-time winner from 11 starts with earnings of $245,800.
Prior to the Gamely, Capital Plan cruised to a 1 1/2-length triumph in the 10-furlong Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT) on the turf at Santa Anita Park April 21. She registered her first stakes win in the Santa Barbara. Joel Rosario, riding in his final day in Southern California before shifting to New York starting June 27 at Belmont Park, is back aboard Capital Plan. They break from gate 4 with co-top weight of 118 pounds.
Six older fillies and mares are entered in the Beverly Hills, the eighth race at 4:40 p.m. PDT on the Hollywood card.
The major rival for Capital Plan will be be the Irish-bred Cambina, also carrying 118 for trainer Jeff Bonde and the ownership tandem of Anthony Bilich, Charles Cline, Dennis Raihill, and George Schmitt. Cambina, though the winner of last summer's American Oaks (gr. IT) in a dead-heat at the Beverly Hills distance over this turf course, has lost seven in a row since then.
The 4-year-old daughter of Hawk Wing rallied belatedly after a slow start in the Gamely and finished fifth. She was a late-rallying second to Capital Plan in the Santa Barbara prior to that. Cambina leads the field in earnings with $428,426 while winning six of 19 races.
Another entrant with a long dryspell is Camille C, a 5-year-old California-bred daughter of Roman Dancer that is winless in her last 16 races for owner Carlos Polanco and his brother, trainer Marcelo Polanco. Camille C, who has won three of 29 and earned $383,605, collected her last victory in the Melair Stakes April 24, 2010.
Trainer Simon Callaghan, who won this race with Turning Top two years ago, will be represented by Imperialistic Diva.
Owned by California Horse Racing board member Charles Winner, Imperialistic Diva comes off a nose win in an optional claimer May 31. The Irish-bred daughter of Haafhd has won three of 17 starts, two of her wins coming over the local grass course.
$100,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 4:40 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Quaintly (KY), V Espinoza, 113, P L Biancone
2. Cambina (IRE), G K Gomez, 118, J Bonde
3. Slane Castle (KY), B Blanc, 110, R W Leonard
4. Capital Plan (KY), J Rosario, 118, J Hollendorfer
5. Imperialistic Diva (IRE), J Talamo, 113, S Callaghan
6. Camille C (CA), M Garcia, 112, M Polanco
Capital Plan won the Santa Barbara Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths on April 21.
Benoit Photo