Color of Courage is now 2-for-2 as a gelding after another
impressive victory in the $61,600 allowance feature Friday night at Hollywood
Park.
Returned to action last month after being sidelined for more
than 1 ½ years, the 4-year-old son of Came Home and the Holy Bull mare Color
Magic overcame a second consecutive troubled beginning to win going away
against a field that included four graded stakes winners.
Owned by breeders John and Cheryl Toffan and trained by Paco
Gonzalez, Color of Courage, the 5-2 second choice, had only one rival beat
after a half-mile, began his rally into the stretch, then found a seam between
horses in the final sixteenth of a mile under jockey Mike Smith to win with
something in reserve.
A 25-1 shot when he defeated lesser May 15 in his Cushion
Track debut, Color of Courage paid $7, $3.80 and $3.20. He ran the seven
furlongs in 1:21.66 while prevailing by three-quarters of a length.
Red Door Drive, who lost for the first time in three starts
on the Hollywood Park main track, returned $7.20 and $5.80 while finishing
three-quarters of a length in front of Tres Borrachos.
Making his first start since last Sept. 26 at Fairplex Park and initial appearance for trainer
Marty Jones, Tres Borrachos, who was nearly 17-1, gained third by a half-length
over 11-1 shot Bet On Victor. The show payoff on Tres Borrachos, who won the
2008 Swaps Stakes, was $8.60.
Successful twice in four races as a 2-year-old in 2009,
Color of Courage improved to 4-for-6 lifetime and has yet to finish worse than
third. The $36,000 payday boosted his earnings to $132,240.
Completing the order of finish were pacesetter Matto Mondo,
Golden Itiz, Slew the Man, Supreme Summit, the 2-1 favorite, and Coffee Boy.
Racing resumes Saturday. In conjunction with the simulcast
of the 143rd Belmont Stakes, post time is 11 a.m.
There are four stakes races on the 11 race program at
Hollywood Park, topped by the $250,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap. A
Grade I at 1 ¼ miles on turf, the Whittingham features defending champion
Acclamation, multiple stakes winner Bourbon Bay and four others.
The other graded events are the $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap
for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf and the $100,000 Affirmed
Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track. The ungraded race
is the $70,000 Cinderella Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs.
Hollywood Park will also play host to 25 gourmet food
trucks. The trucks will be situated at the North Park Lawn. Track gates will
open at 8 a.m. The first of 13 imports from Belmont Park
is scheduled for 8:35 a.m. The Belmont Stakes will be run between the eighth
and ninth races at Hollywood
Park. Post time is 3:35
p.m. PDT.