Photo: Hollywood Park
Compari, victorious in six of eight outings, will
make his next start in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10, trainer
Marty Jones confirmed Sunday.
Jones gave the California-bred 4-year-old gelding the
green light after a seven-furlong work in 1:26.80 on Cushion Track. “He
finished really nice,” said Jones.
Owned and bred by John Harris, Don Valpredo and John
Nicoletti, Compari comes off a seventh-place finish in the Shoemaker Mile on
turf May 31, snapping a six-race winning streak.
“It was a combination of things,” said Jones in
analyzing the defeat, in which Compari was forced to steady at the 3/8-pole.
“The post parade, the break, and he didn’t have a smooth trip.
“Things didn’t work out that race and we hope to put
them together next time out,” continued Jones. “He won the Snow Chief on this
track and has always trained well on it.”
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who won the 2004 Gold
Cup on Total Impact, will ride Compari for the first time. By Redattore out of
the Dixieland Band mare Southern Charm, Compari has won four stakes, including
the Grade II Arcadia Handicap. He has earned $422,640.
Defending champion Rail Trip is expected to head the
lineup in the Grade I handicap at 1 ¼ miles on the main track.