Trainer Mike Puype tied a longstanding Betfair Hollywood Park record when he earned his sixth consecutive victory in the nightcap June 22.
The win Saturday by 2-1 favorite Hustlin Nu in the ninth race (VIDEO), a $20,000 maiden claimer, continued a streak that began two days earlier for the 46-year-old Puype. The Arizona native matched the record set by Allen Drumheller Sr. July 4-5, 1955.
Puype can break the record Sunday if Moonlight Splitter, 8-1 on the morning line, wins the sixth race.
Change of Plan ($5) began the trainer's roll by capturing the second race June 20 (VIDEO). Puype won twice the following day, taking back-to-back races with Smart N Dreamy ($6.20) in the fourth (VIDEO) and Bella Viaggia ($3.80) in the fifth (VIDEO). He tripled Saturday with 11-1 Muchos Besos posting a $25 upset in the first (VIDEO) and Insideondoutside ($6) in the fifth (VIDEO) preceding Hustlin Nu's heroics.
"It doesn't get any better than that,'' Puype said. "Six wins in a row and tying a 58-year-old record. I knew I had a good chance (in the ninth) because the owners let me enter this horse (in the right spot) today.
"This is large. It's going to help my business. I've already got 13 calls on my phone. I thought I would have a good week, but not as well as it's turned out. I've had great trips and great rides.''
Moonlight Splitter, owned in part by Jim Rome's Jungle Racing, is a 3-year-old daughter of Pomeroy making her initial start in a $52,000 maiden affair at six furlongs on turf.
Puype also entered Goodtobewild, a 4-year-old maiden filly who has been second in all three of her starts, in Sunday's ninth. She is 7-2 on the early line.
"They're both live,'' he said. "It's not easy to win a maiden special weight around here, but Moonlight Splitter is very fast. I don't know how far she'll go, but she's fast. Goodtobewild is the favorite and has a real good chance.''
The recent surge has propelled Puype into second place in the trainer's race. Through 36 days of the spring/summer meet, Puype has 17 victories, six fewer than leader John Sadler, who won twice Saturday.
