Trainer Bob Baffert looks for his fifth win in the Hollywood Prevue (gr. III) with a pair of promising 2-year-olds in Macias and Indian Firewater at Hollywood Park Nov. 21.
The $100,000 Prevue, at seven furlongs on Cushion Track, is the Inglewood track's major local prep for the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) Dec. 19. Eight juveniles were entered, with the impressive Keeneland maiden winner American Lion likely the biggest challenge to Baffert's duo.
Baffert last won the Prevue in 2007 with Massive Drama, who went on to finish third behind Into Mischief and Colonel John in the CashCall Futurity. Baffert also won the Prevue in three consecutive years with Premier Property (1998), Commitisize (1997) and In Excessive Bull (1996).
Zayat Stables' Macias enters as one of just two stakes winners in the field. The son of Purge broke his maiden in his second start Oct. 31 at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet early last month. He returned Oct. 31 with a game neck victory over the hard-charging Hurricane Ike in Oak Tree's six-furlong Jack Goodman Stakes. Macias dueled for the lead in the Goodman before clearing off in the stretch and holding on in the final furlong.
Indian Firewater comes off a wide trip in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance race at Oak Tree in which he finished second Oct. 10. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the son of Indian Charlie broke his maiden by more than four lengths in his second start Sept. 7 at Del Mar.
Rafael Bejarano takes the mount on Macias, replacing Garrett Gomez, who sticks with Indian Firewater.
The other stakes winner in the field is Seattle Ruler, winner of the Barretts Juvenile at Fairplex Sept. 20 before running ninth of 11 in Oak Tree's Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 4. A son of Roman Ruler from the barn of Mike Harrington, who also co-owns the chestnut, Seattle Ruler's stakes win is his only victory in seven starts.
WinStar Farms' American Lion, a son of Tiznow trained by Eoin Harty, comes off a 6 3/4-length maiden romp as a short price at Keeneland Oct. 18 in his second start. Julien Leparoux, who leads Gomez by approximately $700,000 atop the nation’s money standings with $18 million, will fly in from Kentucky to ride American Lion once again.
“It’s a big step up, but I think he’s up to the task,” said Harty, who will saddle American Lion for the first time. “He’s a big colt. He looks like a combination of Tiznow and Storm Cat (sire of his dam, Storm Tide).”
Get My Fix, from the Brian Koriner barn, also comes off a maiden score as the favorite by 1 3/4 lengths at Oak Tree Oct. 10. The Posse colt has had four races.
Pico Pico, a son of Pico Central, California-bred maiden winner Tribal Face and Purse Luva, a claiming winner at the $50,000 level in his last start, complete the field.
$100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 4:05 p.m.), 2-Year-Olds, 7 Furlongs (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Seattle Ruler (KY), M Garcia, 118, M Harrington
2. Get My Fix (KY), J Talamo, 116, B J Koriner
3. Indian Firewater (KY), G K Gomez, 116, B Baffert
4. American Lion (KY), J R Leparoux, 116, E G Harty
5. Macias (KY), R Bejarano, 118, B Baffert
6. Pico Pico (FL), A O Solis, 116, V L Garcia
7. Tribal Face (CA), J Rosario, 116, S Knapp
8. Purse Luva (KY), V Espinoza, 118, C F Dominguez