Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) winner Five Star Day will make his first career start on turf Friday in the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park. Earlier on the card, Euro Empire and Word Puzzle will go to post as the co-highweights in the $200,000 Miesque Stakes (gr. IIIT).
After he ducked out at the start of the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), Five Star Day lost all chance, and jockey Garrett Gomez wisely eased up on the 4-year-old son of Carson City, settling for last in the 14-horse field. Gomez gets the return call in the Turf Express, in which Five Star Day will start from post position four under 120 pounds, two less than highweight El Cielo and a pound less than Full Moon Madness. Five Star Day may be challenged for the early lead by Texas Glitter, who has won three consecutive races since switching to the turf.
The field for the 5 1/2-furlong Hollywood Turf Express will consist of:
1--Full Moon Madness, Gary Stevens, 121
2--Texas Glitter, Aaron Gryder, 117
3--Treasure Hunt, Alex Solis, 112
4--Five Star Day, Garrett Gomez, 120
5--Purely Cozzene, Kent Desormeaux, 116
6--Show Me the Stage, Eddie Delahoussaye, 116
7--El Cielo, Corey Nakatani, 122
8--Bay Runner, Laffit Pincay Jr., 111
The field for the one-mile Miesque will consist of:
1--Euro Empire, Brice Blanc, 121
2--Smart Timing, Chris McCarron, 114
3--Word Puzzle, Kent Desoreaux, 121
4--Skatesheba, Corey Nakatani, 116
5--Fantastic Filly, Garrett Gomez, 116
6--Langoureuse, Gary Stevens, 116
7--Eminent, Eddie Delahoussaye, 118
8--Premiere Event, Laffit Pincay Jr., 114
9--Sheza Niner, Martin Pedroza, 116
10--Lucien, Alex Solis, 118
11--Skywriting, Ignacio Puglisi, 114
