Well sadly today, it was announced that Hollywood Park will be no more at the end of the year, link. It's really sad to see the place where not only Lava Man got 3 Gold Cup's in a row, but the great Native Diver as well. I really hope Santa Anita or DelMar picks up HP's stakes races next year someway, some how.
In honor of Hollywood Park. I present you the 2009 Hollywood Gold Cup!
1. Autsim Awareness- Lopez
2. Big Booster- Rosario
3. Mast Track- Flores
4. Bullsbay- Rose
5. Parading- Desormeaux
6. Dakota Phone- Bejarano
7. Song of Navarone- Espinoza
8. Rail Trip- Valdivia, Jr.
9. Tres Borrachos- Talamo
10. Life is Sweet- Gomez
11. Global Hunter (Arg)- Nakatani
12. Informed- Baze
13. Magnum (Arg)- Pedroza
On paper, Parading is the one to beat. The mile and quarter distance shouldn't be a problem as he hails from the same family as Storm Flag Flying (in matter of fact, his mom is her full sister). Many people want to see Life is Sweet win, just to show that Jerry Moss was wrong about not sending Zenyatta against the boys, and could escalate the Rachel Alexandra vs Zenyatta match-up even more. Bullsbay is a local for me, Informed is trying to keep his trainers perfect Gold Cup record intact and Rail Trip is trying to redeem himself. However for this race, I'm going with my heart and not my head. I'm rooting for Autism Awareness, the reason being? My sister had a friend several years ago whose brother had an mild case of Autism. For second I would love to see Tres Borrachos (and no it's not because of his name is in English), and I always liked Big Booster and Magnum so I would love to see them get 3rd and 4th respectivly.
Yes I know the likley hood of this happening is slim to none, but it could happen.
I also made a boo-boo yesterday I said that there where 2 G1's this weekend, there are three. However the other two, aren't really that great (especially the Princess Rooney after the scratch of Indian Blessing). So I have no pick in the Princess Rooney and my pick in the Man O War is Gio Ponti (although I'm not sure if he can get the distance).
In other news, Derby runner up Pioneerof the Nile has been retired, link. I'll be brutelly honest, karma got the best of him in the Preakness when his owner tried to pull off the stunt in order to block Rachel. I wish him the best of luck at stud, but I would not breed to him if I even had the chance.
Also my favorite horse of all time Funny Cide will be at Ellis this weekend, link. Sigh here I am stuck in Delaware and I so want to go see him. Maybe it's time for a road trip!
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