Photo: Hollywood Park
Although far from easy, Capital Plan remained undefeated at 1 ¼ miles on turf, winning the $100,000 Beverly Hills Handicap Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Reunited with jockey Joel Rosario, who will begin riding regularly
at Belmont Park Wednesday, the 4-year-old Rock Hard Ten filly held off
2-1 second choice Cambina by a nose in the Grade III.
In her third try at the distance, Capital Plan, the 9-10 favorite,
tracked the extremely slow pace (26.11, 51.47 and 1.15.75 for six
furlongs) set by Quaintly for most of the trip, got the best of that one
nearing the wire, then withstood the surge of the runner-up.
Owned by Mark DeDomenico LLC and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Capital Plan won for the fifth time in 12 starts. She’s earned $305,800.
Four of her victories have come in nine races since she was
privately purchased by her current connections last summer at Del Mar.
The Beverly Hills was the second graded success for Capital Plan, who is
out of the Strawberry Road mare Miss Dahlia. She won the Grade II Santa
Barbara Handicap April 21 at Santa Anita.
In winning for the first time in four races when favored, Capital
Plan, who was bred in Kentucky and Madeleine Pickens and Gerald Ford’s
Diamond A Racing Corporation, paid $3.80. The final time was 2:04.21,
the slowest of 16 renewals of the Beverly Hills at 10 furlongs, but the
last quarter mile was accomplished in less than 24 seconds.
“I knew they were going really, really slow, but she’s the kind of
filly where you can’t make your move too soon,’’ said Rosario. “I just
tried to wait for the right time so when I asked her to go she would
have something left. And that was exactly what happened.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent confident we would win at the sixteenth pole,
but my filly was giving me everything she had. I want to thank
(Hollendorfer) for all of the opportunities he’s given me.’’
Assistant trainer Dan Ward said the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare
Turf Nov. 2 at Santa Anita is the ultimate objective in 2012 for Capital
Plan. He added she could surface next in either the Grade II, $250,000
John C. Mabee Aug. 12 at Del Mar or the Grade I, $750,000 Beverly D Aug.
18 at Arlington.
Seeking to end a 10-race losing streak, Cambina paid $2.80 and
$2.10. Quaintly, making her first start against females in the United
States after consecutive runner-up efforts against males, returned $2.40
to show while finishing a half-length behind Cambina.
Imperialistic Diva, Camille C and Slane Castle completed the order of finish.