Jeranimo, who won the Oak Tree Mile the last time he raced
in California, returns from Kentucky for the $250,000 Citation Handicap
Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Trained by Mike Pender for B. J. Wright, Jeranimo was
seventh of 13 in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs after
his success at 9-2 in the Grade II Oak Tree Mile.
The Florida bred son of Congaree and the Jeblar mare Jera
has won six of 23 and earned $668,400. He is 1-for-2 on the Hollywood Park
grass, winning a $48,000 allowance over Fluke and three others Nov. 27, 2010.
Third behind Jeramino in the Oak Tree Mile, John Johny Jak
will be aiming for his first graded win. No worse than third in four starts in California, the
4-year-old Wildcat Heir ridgling out of the Saint Ballado mare Pure Adrenalin
won the restricted Lure Stakes Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.
Trained by Kristin Mulhall for Kretz Racing LLC, John Johny
Jak, who began his career in Florida, has won eight of 23 and banked $284,799.
Second in his comeback in the California Cup Sprint Oct. 29
at Santa Anita, Bob Black Jack will be making his turf debut for owners Jeff
Harmon and Tim Kasparoff and trainer Jim Kasparoff.
The 6-year-old Stormy Jack horse and the Native Prospector
mare Molly’s Prospector has won five of 12 and earned $704,925. His race in the
California Cup Sprint was his first since he captuted the Grade II San Carlos
Handicap Feb. 20, 2010 at Santa Anita.
Assessment, who finished a nose behind John Johny Jak when
43-1 in the Lure, will be shooting for his first win of 2011 for Tice Ranch Stables
LLC and trainer Vann Belvoir.
A Kentucky bred son of Jump Start and the Silver Ghost mare
Native Ghost, the 7-year-old gelding is 9-for-40 lifetime with a bankroll of
$487,630. The Citation will be his ninth start of the year.
Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally will try for his third
Citation victory when he saddles Buenos Dias.
A 6-year-old Irish bred son of Peintre Celebre and the
Rainbow Quest mare Buenos Aires, Buenos Dias has lost 10 in a row since winning
an optional claimer over the Hollywood Park turf June 10, 2010. Owned by
Charles Cella, the bay has won three of 29 and earned $306,253.
McAnally’s previous wins in this race were with Pewter Grey
(second division-1983) and Brave Act (1999).
The Oak Tree Mile trailer, Calimonco will try to rebound for
owner-breeders Pam and Marty Wygod and Ballena Vista Farms Inc. and trainer
John Sadler. The 5-year-old Storm Cat horse out of the Kris S. mare Sweet Life
has won four of 26 and earned $264,466. He defeated John Johny Jak by a nose in
the restricted Wickerr when 20-1 July 27 at Del Mar.
Make Music for Me, who owns a win over the Hollywood Park
turf, enters off consecutive sixth-place finishes – in the Grade II Clement L.
Hirsch Oct. 3 and the Lure – for owners Ellen and Peter O. Johnson Sr. and
trainer Alexis Barba.
The 4-year-old Bernstein colt out of the Carson City mare
Miss Cheers is 3-for-20 with earnings of $471,520. His local grass victory came
by a nose in an allowance Dec. 12, 2010.
War Element will make his graded stakes debut in the
Citation for owner-breeders Mr. and Mrs. Warren B. Williamson and trainer Carla
Gaines.
The 4-year-old War Chant gelding and the Great Commotion
mare Blending Element has won twice in four races, banking $74,049. He finished
fourth in the Lure.
Leroy’s Dynameaux will be returning to his favorite turf
course for owner-breeder Ellenay Racing Inc. and trainer Mark Glatt. The
4-year-old Leroidesanimaux gelding and the Dynaformer mare Dyna Peak
has won three of 15 and earned $199,852. Two of his wins have occurred on the Hollywood Park turf, including the Grade III Will
Rogers – at the Citation distance – June 20, 2010.
From the inside out, the field for the 34th
running of the Citation Handicap: Calimonco, Mike Smith rides, 116 pounds;
Jeranino, Garrett Gomez, 122; Buenos Dias, Brice Blanc, 113; Leroy’s Dynameaux,
Rafael Bejarano, 114; War Element, Joel Rosario, 113; Make Music for Me,
Chantal Sutherland, 114; Bob Black Jack, Joe Talamo, 118; Assessment, Daniel
Vergara, 115 and John Johny Jak, Victor Espinoza, 118.