Asked if he had his six opponents in the Californian Stakes
Saturday at Hollywood Park surrounded with his two entrants, trainer Paddy
Gallagher Thursday replied, “They have me surrounded. There are a lot of nice
horses in that race.”
Aggie Engineer, who drew post four under Joe Talamo, and
Soul Candy, who leaves from post six under Garrett Gomez, both have one
advantage in the $150,000 Grade II Californian. They are the only entrants to
have won stakes at Hollywood
Park, and both at the
Californian distance of 1 1/8 miles.
Aggie Engineer, a 6-year-old gelding, won the Native Diver
Handicap in December. Soul Candy, a 5-year-old gelding, captured the California
Cup Classic in October.
The running styles of the pair do not clash. “Aggie
Engineer’s good races have been on or near the lead,” said Gallagher. “Soul
Candy lays back and makes one run.”
The Californian serves as the final major prep for the
$500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9.