WinStar Farm's homebred Colonel John, a 4 1/2-length maiden winner in his last start for trainer Eoin Harty, is the likely favorite in Hollywood Park's $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles over the Cushion Track Nov. 18.
The Real Quiet, which drew a lightly raced field of eight, is the major local prep event for the former Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), a $750,000 race now named the CashCall Futurity. The 1 1/16-mile test is Dec. 22 on the Hollywood main track.
Colonel John has raced twice in his career, debuting at six furlongs Aug. 19 with a second-place finish at Del Mar. The bay colt by Tiznow —Sweet Damsel, by Turkoman, returned six weeks later to break his maiden over seven furlongs at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet. Colonel John stalked the pace and made a three-wide bid to assume command in the stretch while ridden out. He should appreciate the added distance of the Real Quiet, but must overcome his rail draw. Jockey Corey Nakatani has the return mount.
"He worked five-eighths in a minute (Nov. 13) at Santa Anita with Nakatani and will ship over (Nov. 16)," Harty said.
Washington-based trainer Jim Penney, competing this fall in Northern California, has entered a pair. Gallon, the only stakes winner in the Real Quiet field, and Café Tortoni recently arrived at Hollywood from Golden Gate Fields.
Garrett Gomez picks up the ride on Gallon, a Victory Gallop gelding who defeated his stablemate by a neck in the one-mile WTBA Lads Stakes at Emerald Downs Sept. 1. Gallon later ran second to Smarty Deb in the 1 1/16-mile Gottstein Futurity at Emerald while Café Tortoni finished fourth in the same race. Michael Baze is named to ride Café Tortoni, a British Columbia-bred gelding by Katahaula County who is coming off a one-mile starter allowance win at Bay Meadows Oct. 26. Gallon also comes off a victory at Bay Meadows, defeating an allowance field at 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf.
New York-bred Overextended was exactly that in his last start, finishing seventh — beaten by 21 1/2 lengths — by War Pass in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Oct. 27. The gray Monarchos colt has a 1 1/16-mile maiden victory in six starts and should fare much better here. Martin Garcia has the call for Doug O'Neill.
Trainer Jeff Bonde ships Orientate Me, another New York-bred, from Golden Gate Fields after a third-place finish in the Harvest Futurity at Fresno Oct. 12. The Orientate colt makes his first start beyond six furlongs.
D. Double You, a son of Lion Hearted, also goes long for the first time after winning two of his first three starts for trainer Peter Miller.
Rivergrade Boy has eight lifetime starts for trainer Caesar Dominguez, winning twice with three seconds. The Grand Slam colt most recently won a one-mile starter allowance by a nose at Oak Tree Oct. 26.
$100,000 Real Quiet Stakes (Race 9, 4:35 p.m.), 2-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Colonel John (KY), 117, Corey S. Nakatani
2. Café Tortoni (BC), 115, Michael C. Baze
3. Many Rivers (KY), 117, Tyler Baze
4. Overextended (NY), 117, Martin Garcia
5. Orientate Me (NY), 117, Victor Espinoza
6. D. Double You (MD), 115, Mike E. Smith
7. Rivergrade Boy (KY), 115, Alex O. Solis
8. Gallon (KY), 119, Garrett K. Gomez
