Nursery Upset Aids Record Hollywood Carryover

(from Hollywood Park report)
Double D Appeal, who spotted the leaders about ten lengths when pinched back shortly after the break, rallied to catch favorite Bella Banissa in late stretch en route to a 1 1/2-length victory under Victor Espinoza in the $83,850 Nursery Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

One of several upsets on the day, there was a Pick Six carryover for the second straight day, resulting in a record two-day total of $708,235 when racing resumes Wednesday. The previous record of $638,713 was set on the same date in 1999, generating an aggregate pool of $3,028,295 on the Wednesday program. Eight perfect tickets were worth $246,733 apiece.

Double D Appeal, who had not run since breaking her maiden in a two-furlong race April 7 at Santa Anita Park, closed from fourth in the final eighth while covering the five furlongs in :58.06.

"I really got nailed at the start," Espinoza said. "I came so close to clipping the heels of another horse. I almost went down. I kind of squeezed my horse's head to the outside. It was only chance I had of staying on. When that happened, I thought it was all over. But about 40 yards later, she started to pick it up with her feet. I could feel I had a lot of horse under me. So I just stayed patient.

"At the three-eighths pole, I touched her on the shoulder a little bit, and she really took off," he added. "I decided to go around the other horses because she's a baby, and she already had been smashed leaving the gate. But she got the job done, even though she jumped a little bit right before the wire. She kept me on my toes. I think she's going to be a really good filly. I was really impressed with the way she overcame things today."

Trained by Jeff Bonde, Double D Appeal was the third choice in the field of nine 2-year-old fillies, paying $11.40, $5 and $4. Bella Banissa, the 9-5 choice who seemed in command at the top of the stretch while making her career debut under Corey Nakatani, paid $4.20 and $3.20. Kelly's Princess, who set the pace under Martin Pedroza, paid $5.80 to show.

Double D Appeal, who earned $47,610, boosted her earnings to $73,530 with two wins in three starts.

(Chart, Equibase)