Chandtrue, left, battles Actxecutive inside the eighth pole on the way to the win in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship, Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Chandtrue stayed undefeated in his young four-race career with a measured half-length decision over Actxecutive in the $104,272 Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III) at Hollywood Park Saturday.The Harold F. Greene-owned 2-year-old son of Yes It's True became the fourth horse to sweep the track's three-race juvenile series. The others were Lucky Mel in 1956, Century's Envoy in 1973 and Squirtle Squirt in 2000. Chandtrue, making his first graded stakes start, was the 3-10 choice in a field of four.Trainer Bob Hess Jr.considered holding Chandtrue out of the race because he wasn't sure the Florida-bred colt was at the top of his game. Chandtrue had won his three previous starts by a combined total of 15 1/2 lengths.Chandtrue had control of the race in the stretch after jockey Victor Espinoza went to the whip five times left-handed. He finished under steady handling as Actxecutive continued to battle to the wire along the inside and was rapidly cutting into the winner's lead. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:10 4/5.Actxecutive, ridden by David Flores, set the early fractions (:22 and :45 3/5) while challenged by Great Power. Chandtrue, who stalked in third into the turn after taking an awkward step out of the starting gate, vied for the lead while three wide coming into the stretch. Actxecutive, who was beaten by 11 lengths as the even-money choice by Chandtrue in their most recent race, the June 20 Haggin Stakes, showed determination in defeat.Trailing were Commandant, 7 1/2 lengths behind the winner, and Great Power.All four of Chandtrue's starts have come during the current Hollywood Park meet, starting with his maiden outing on April 29. Hess said the narrow margin of the colt's victory in the Juvenile caused him concern. ``He didn't look like he was going to open up at the three-eighths pole,'' Hess said. ``I knew Actxecutive was going to run much better than he did last time and I was worried about him.'' Chandtrue, who was a $130,000 Keeneland buy in September, earned $63,840 to push his career bankroll to $182,970. W.E. Waltrip bred the winner, who is out of the dam Chanelle, by Crafty Prospector.He paid $2.60 and $2.10. Actxecutive was $2.10 to place.(Chart, Equibase)
