Photo: Hollywood Park
J P’s Gusto, who earned his maiden
victory in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial on May 31, tops a field of eight
2-year-olds in the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship Monday at Hollywood Park.
The nine race program – post time
1 p.m. - wraps the holiday weekend. Live racing resumes Thursday, July 8.
Owned by Gem Inc. and trained by
David Hofmans, the son of Successful Appeal and the Caller I.D. mare Call Her
Magic won by 4 ½ lengths over heavily favored Belleofthebridle in the ungraded
Proctor.
This authoritative win came three
weeks after he had finished a troubled sixth as the 9-5 favorite in his debut.
A $52,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland last September, J P’s Gusto has earned
$37,360.
Joe Talamo, who was second aboard
Zip Quik in this race last year and with Leonides in 2007, retains the mount in
the Grade III at six furlongs. Looking to give Hofmans his first win in the
race, J P’s Gusto will carry high weight of 120 pounds.
Three of those who finished behind
J P’s Gusto in the Proctor are back in the Juvenile Championship. Of the trio, Edgewick
Road fared best. He
finished third, but was beaten 13 ¾ lengths.
Owned, trained and bred by Mike
Harrington, the Swiss Yodeler colt out of the Cozzene mare La Fresa has one win
in three tries. He’s earned $47,928. Harrington won the race in 1996 with Edgewick
Road’s sire.
Tappin Tough was fifth in the
Proctor, 14 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Owned by a partnership that includes
breeder Terry Lovingier, the Tapit colt and the Ascot Knight mare is 1-for-2
with earnings of $26,192. He is one of two entrants for trainer Walther Solis,
joining River’s Chapel.
A Chapel Royal colt out of the
Dixieland Band mare, River’s Chapel is 1-for-3 with earnings of $38,800.
Leon Ayala was last of seven in
the Proctor, defeated by 16 lengths. He is adding blinkers for owner Eligio
Ayala and trainer Oscar Garcia.The Crown The King colt and the Romanov mare
Kiri Te is 1-for-2, banking $17,200.
There are two participants
entering after impressive debut wins.
Marvin’s Magic, a son of Aptitude
and the West by West mare Maria Jean, won in the slop at Emerald Downs on June
6, leading throughout at 4 ½ furlongs. He is owned in partnership by breeder
Chris Randall and trained by Frank Lucarelli. The win was worth $9,950.
Western Mood’s initial win was
local. The West Acre
colt and the Deputy Minister mare True Mood rallied after a slow start to win
at five furlongs on June 12.
Owned by George Todaro and trainer
Jerry Hollendorfer, Western Mood, who was purchased in March for $50,000, has
banked $24,600.
Completing the lineup is the
maiden Minutesandtouches.
From the inside out, the field for
the 71st Hollywood Juvenile Championship: Leon Ayala, Felipe Valdez
rides, 117 pounds; Marvin’s Magic, Mike Smith, 117; Minutesandtouches, Martin
Garcia, 115; River’s Chapel, Christian Santiago Reyes, 117; Tappin Tough, David
Flores, 117; J P’s Gusto, Joe Talamo, 121; Edgewick Road, Tyler Baze, 117 and
Western Mood, Joel Rosario, 117.