Photo: Hollywood Park
Trainers Bob Baffert and Jerry Hollendorfer will send out
two-thirds of the field in the $70,000 Desert Stormer Handicap Sunday at
Hollywood Park.
An ungraded race at six furlongs over Cushion Track, the
Desert Stormer attracted six fillies and mares. It is the eighth of nine races.
Post time Sunday is 1 p.m.
Baffert, a member of racing’s Hall of Fame since 2009, will
be represented by Fund Raiser and Irish Gypsy.
Meanwhile, Hollendorfer, who will be inducted into the Hall
of Fame in August, will start U R All That I Am and Washington Bridge.
Third behind Free Flying Soul and Alpha Kitten in this race
a year ago, Fund Raiser will be making her first start since finishing third in
the Louis R. Rowan last Oct. 3 during the Oak Tree/Hollywood Park meet.
Owned by Arnold Zetcher LLC, the 5-year-old Harlan’s Holiday
mare out of the Unreal Zeal mare Zealous Folia has won four of 13, earning
$208,437.
A 5-year-old daughter of Hennessy and the Relaunch mare
Rayelle, Irish Gypsy returns to California after winning the Valid Expectations
May 30 at Lone Star Park.
Bred in Kentucky by Jerry and Ann Moss, Irish Gypsy, who is
owned by Mike Pegram and Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine, has four wins in 12 starts and a
bankroll of $196,310.
Both of the Hollendorfer entrants are stakes winners over
Cushion Track. U R All That I Am won the 2010 B. Thoughtful Stakes while Washington Bridge took the Grade II Bayakoa
Handicap last Dec. 5.
Owned by breeder Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, U R All That I
Am, a 5-year-old daughter of Valid Wager and the Fort Calgary mare Fort Silver
has won 10 of 25 while earning $408,882.
A 4-year-old Yankee Gentleman filly out of the Prized mare
Stirling Bridge, Washington Bridge has won five of 22 and banked $251,464 for
owners Hollendorfer and Mark DeDomenico LLC. This will be the first appearance
in a non-graded race for Washington
Bridge since she won the
restricted Life Is Sweet here last Nov. 12.
Completing the field are All the Love and Warren’s Blossom.
A 6-year-old daughter of Malabar Gold and the Out of Place
mare Turtle Beach, All the Love will be trying to give trainer Bruce Headley a
second consecutive Desert Stormer victory. Headley, who also owns All the Love,
won with Free Flying Soul in 2010.
A two time winner over the Hollywood Park main track, All
the Love has four wins in 13 attempts and earnings of $113,500.
Warren’s Blossom enters off a victory on turf for
owner-breeder Benjamin Warren and trainer Jorge Gutierrez. The 4-year-old Extra
filly out of the Present Value mare Past `n Present mare has won five of seven
and has a bankroll of $145,750.
From inside out, the field for the Desert Stormer Handicap:
Fund Raiser, Rafael Bejarano rides, 120 pounds; Washington Bridge, Garrett
Gomez, 118; Warren’s Blossom, Martin Pedroza, 115; All the Love, Chantal
Sutherland, 113; Irish Gypsy, Martin Garcia, 119 and U R All That I Am, Joe
Talamo, 116.