Belgravia Taking Big Step in Hollywood Futurity

(from Hollywood Park report)
Belgravia, unbeaten in two starts, will try to add a grade I victory to his record for trainer Patrick Biancone in the $441,500 Hollywood Futurity on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

The 2-year-old chestnut son of Mr. Greeley, a $2 million Fasig-Tipton buy in February by Michael Tabor, John Magnier, and Zayat Stables, broke his maiden Oct. 18 at Keeneland.

He came from slightly off the pace to win the Hollywood Prevue (gr. III) by a nose over late charging Dilemma while making his second career start on the Hollywood Park all-weather track Nov. 18.

The 1 1/16-mile Futurity has been a stopping point for six Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners since its inaugural running in 1981.

Biancone is hopeful Belgravia can follow in the footsteps of Lion Heart, winner of the Prevue and Futurity for the French trainer during an unbeaten campaign in 2003.

Lion Heart went on to finish second behind Smarty Jones   in the Kentucky Derby and later won the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.

Tabor campaigned Derby winner Thunder Gulch, who finished second in the Futurity, and was a partner with Magnier when Lion Heart won the Futurity three years ago.

Belgravia breaks from the outside post in the field of 10. Julien Leparoux, who traveled to Hollywood to guide Belgravia to victory in the Prevue, has the mount again.

The colt will have his work cut out. His rivals include Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Whatsthescript, Norfolk (gr. II) one-two finishers Stormello and Principle Secret, Real Quiet Stakes winner Roman Commander, and Notional, who finished third as the favorite in the Prevue.

Whatsthescript, an Irish-bred owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trained by Manuel Marques, shifts to Cushion Track after back-to-back stakes wins on turf. He won the Pinjara at Santa Anita in October and was very impressive in Hollywood's Generous Stakes Thanksgiving Weekend.

Stormello and Principle Secret earned berths in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) after clashing in the Norfolk. Principle Secret went to the front with Stormello on his heels and was eased while his rival finished fifth.

Both have been training well over Hollywood Park's synthetic track in preparation for the Futurity.

Notional and Liquidity will be representing owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill in the Futurity. Notional broke his maiden in his first start and led at the top of the stretch while making his second start in the Prevue, but tired and finished third.

Liquidity stalked the pacesetters in the Real Quiet, but could not make up any ground the in the stretch and finished third.

$441,500 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I, Race 9, 4:35 p.m.), 2-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey
1. Silent Soul (KY), Garrett Gomez
2. Notional (CA), Corey Nakatani
3. Unusual Suspect (CA), David Cohen
4. Stormello (KY), Kent Desormeaux
5. Whatsthescript (IRE), Isaias Enriquez
6. Liquidity (KY), David Flores
7. Roman Commander (KY), Alex Solis
8. Principle Secret (KY), Victor Espinoza
9. Senior (KY), Agapito Delgadillo
10. Belgravia (KY), Julien Leparoux
Each assigned 121 pounds.