Global
Hunter edged pacesetter Temple City to win the $150,000 American
Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park.
Unfortunately,
the 7-year-old Jade Hunter horse out of the Telescopico mare Griffe de Paris
took a bad step while pulling up after the finish line. The stewards reported
the Argentine bred suffered a right front ankle injury and was returned to
trainer A C Avila’s stable.
The
win in the Grade II for Global Hunter, who was making his second start of 2010
for owners L-Bo Racing and Monte Pyle, was the eighth of his career. In 30
lifetime outings, Global Hunter has banked $611,365.
Well
positioned on the inside while racing close to the slow pace, Global Hunter,
the 3-1 second choice, challenged 6-1 shot Temple City
inside the final eighth of a mile and was able to prevail by a head.
The
starting highweight at 118 pounds after the scratch earlier in the day of
Compari, who was assigned 119, but opted to wait for the $500,000 Hollywood
Gold Cup on July 10, Global Hunter completed the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.
He paid $8, $5 and $3.80.
Looking
for his first graded victory, Temple
City, who had finished fourth
in his 5-year-old debut on June 6, paid $7.80 and $5.40. He finished a
half-length in front of Hyades, the 7-2 third choice. The show price on Hyades
was $3.60.
Glowing
Praise, the second longest shot in the field at 27-1, was fourth, 1 ¾ lengths
back of Hyades, then came Red Door Drive, Meteore, the 2-1 favorite, Quindici
Man and Oil Man. The field was reduced to eight after the scratches of Compari
and Riviera Cocktail.
Trainer
Neil Drysdale, who has won the American three times, said Riviera Cocktail, who
has won all three of his starts on the Hollywood Park grass, was scratched
because the 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt was “a little dull.’’
With
nine days remaining in the meet, Joel Rosario moved into sole possession of the
lead in the jockey’s race.
Rosario
added three more victories Sunday, enabling him to move two winners ahead of
Rafael Bejarano. Rosario, who is 10-for-21 in the last three racing days, has
64 victories. Tyler Baze is third with 58.
Racing
resumes Monday. Post time is 1 p.m.
The
feature attraction is the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship, a Grade III
for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.