Photo: Hollywood Park
Briecat was ready off the bench, edging 11-10 favorite Givine
by a nose to win the $66,640 Cool Air Stakes Wednesday at Hollywood Park.
Away since finishing fourth in the restricted Santa Lucia
Stakes March 27 at Santa Anita, the 6-year-old daughter of Adcat and the Marlin
mare Silk Briefcase angled inside the eventual runner-up when rallying in the
stretch and was up in the final strides.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Briecat earned her 10th
win in 29 starts and lifted her earnings to $627,567. She completed the six
furlongs on turf in 1:09.44.
Owned by David and Holly Wilson and trained by Vladimir
Cerin, the Florida bred paid $15.40, $4.20 and $3.20. It was the first time the
two-time Grade II winner had run a distance less than one mile since she
finished fourth in the Mesa Handicap March 14, 2009 at Turf Paradise.
Winner of the Great Lady M. Stakes May 29 at the Cool Air
distance, Givine moved up to join leaders Rare Sunset and Home Sweet Aspen with
about a quarter of a mile to run, gained a clear advantage, but couldn’t hold
off the winner. Givine returned $2.60 and $2.40. The show price on A Jealous
Woman, who finished 1 ¼ lengths behind Givine, was $3.60.
Rare Sunset, an Arizona shipper seeking her third
consecutive victory, was fourth, then came Bella Diamante, Elle Special and Home
Sweet Aspen, the 19-10 second choice who was making her initial start on grass
for owner-breeder Jenny Craig and trainer John Sadler.
A former regular on the Southern California circuit, jockey
Aaron Gryder gained his first win at Hollywood Park in well over two years when
directing favored Bruno’s Wager to a 1 ¾ length victory in the fourth race
Wednesday.
Currently third in the rider standings at Golden Gate Fields
behind Russell Baze and Kevin Krigger, Gryder won the $8,000 claimer for
Northern California based trainer Andy Mathis.
A winner for the sixth time in 19 starts, Bruno’s Wager was
claimed out of the win as the 8-5 choice by co-owner and trainer Jerry
Hollendorfer.
The most recent win at Hollywood Park before Wednesday for
Gryder, 41, was with Bob Benoit in the 10th race July 12, 2009.