Acclamation will try to become the second repeat winner in
the $150,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap when he takes on five opponents
Saturday at Hollywood
Park.
A Grade II at 1 ½ miles on turf, the Murray, which will be run for the 21st
time, is the third of nine races. Post time is 1 p.m.
Owned by breeders Buddy and Judy Johnston and trained by Don
Warren, Acclamation won the Murray
by a record 7 ½ lengths in 2010, leading throughout as a 14-1 shot. If he is
successful again, the 5-year-old Unusual Heat horse out of the Silveyville mare
Winning in Style will join On the Acorn (2007-2008) as a two time winner of the
Murray.
After following his win in this event with another
gate-to-wire victory in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap, a Grade I,
last June 5, Acclamation has slumped. The latest defeat during his four race
slide was a last place finish over a sloppy track in the Charles Town Classic
April 16.
“There was mud and rain and trouble on the first turn,’’
said Warren of the race in West Virginia. “Nothing went right. He just
gets a hold of this turf course. He’s doing as well as ever.’’
A winner in three of six starts over the Hollywood Park
grass, Acclamation has won four of 23 overall while earning $518,048. The California bred will
have a new rider Saturday as Joel
Rosario replaces Christian Santiago Reyes.
Buenos Dias, whose lone victory in 15 starts in the United
States came on the turf at Hollywood Park at the Murray distance last June 10,
will be making his first appearance since finishing sixth in the San Luis
Obispo Feb. 19 at Santa Anita.
Owned by Charles Cella and trained by Ron McAnally, Buenos
Dias, a 6-year-old son of Peintre Celebre and the Rainbow Quest mare Buenos Aires, has won
three of 25 and banked $295,412.
Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale, who won the 2003 Murray with Storming
Home, will be represented by Restless Soul.
Owned by Matthew Cioros, the 7-year-old English bred mare
will try to become the first female winner of the race. The daughter of
Singspiel and the Prince Rupert
mare Seasonal Splendour has three wins in 30 starts and earnings of $224,911.
All Saint returns to California
after a productive campaign at Turf Paradise. The 5-year-old Skimming horse and
the Free House mare Santa Patricia won four in a row at the Arizona track between Dec. 18 of last year
and April 2 for trainer Wilton Whitehouse.
Owned by Silvia Gamez, All Saint has won seven of 24 with
earnings of $237,176.
Haimish Hy will be looking for his first win since his upset
when nearly 12-1 in the Hollywood Derby, a Grade I, last Nov. 28.
Owned by a partnership that includes trainer Art Sherman,
the 4-year-old Ecton
Park colt out of the
Equalize mare Tifonico has five wins in 14 starts, banking $314,980.
Fifth in the San
Juan Capistrano, Falcon Rock will be trying to end a
nine race losing streak Saturday. Owned by Michael Tabor and trained by Simon
Callaghan, the 6-year-old Hawk Wing gelding out of the Caerleon mare Champaka
has two wins in 19 races with earnings of $125,182.
The lone win in this country for the Irish bred came in his United States
debut. He prevailed by 2 2 ½ lengths at the Murray distance March 6, 2010 at Santa Anita.
From inside out, the field for the $150,000 Jim Murray
Memorial Handicap: Falcon Rock, Garrett Gomez rides, 114 pounds; Buenos Dias,
Brice Blanc, 116; Haimish Hy, Mike Smith, 117; Restless Soul, Joe Talamo, 110;
Acclamation, Joel Rosario, 119 and All Saint, Patrick Valenzuela, 114.