Six grade I races, including the Hollywood Futurity, highlight the 31-day 2005 Autumn meeting beginning Nov. 9 at Hollywood Park.The meeting is Hollywood Park's first under the management of the Hollywood Park Racing Association after the track's recent sale to Bay Meadows Land Company by Churchill Downs Inc.Last year's Hollywood Futurity, won by Declan's Moon, decided the Eclipse Award for top juvenile in 2004 and served as a launching pad for 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo.Declan's Moon completed a perfect campaign by defeating Giacomo, Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) champion Wilko, and Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner Proud Accolade in a showdown for national honors as outstanding 2-year-old.Giacomo, beaten one length in the 1 1/16-mile Futurity, went on to capture the 2005 Kentucky Derby and finish third in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). He became the sixth Futurity graduate to win the Derby, following Gato Del Sol (1982), Ferdinand (1986), Alysheba (1987), Thunder Gulch (1995), and Real Quiet (1998).The 25th running of the Futurity, which will have a purse estimated at $450,000, is scheduled for Dec. 17. The Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) for 2-year-old fillies will run the following day.Hollywood Park's remaining grade I events are on the turf, including three on Thanksgiving Weekend when the track presents the 15th annual Turf Festival. The three-day event concludes Nov. 27, with a pair of $500,000 events – The Matriarch and the Hollywood Derby (both gr. IT).The Turf Festival begins Nov. 25, with the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express (gr. IIIT) and the $100,000 Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT). The $400,000 Citation Handicap (gr. IT) and the $100,000 Miesque Stakes (gr. IIIT) will be run on Nov. 26.
The $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT) at 1 1/2 miles, is scheduled for Dec. 3. Moved back on the calendar a year ago, the race attracted Breeders' Cup Turf champion Better Talk Now and Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mare Turf starter Megahertz, but Brazilian-bred Pellegrino registered an upset under Gary Stevens.The fall stakes calendar features 14 graded races (6-2-6). First race on the schedule is the $60,000-added Bien Bien Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf on Nov. 12. The final event is the $150,000 Dahlia Handicap (gr. IIT) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf course on Dec. 19.
