Lt.
Hopeful ended a seven race losing streak, holding off A Lil Dumaani in a
$59,184 allowance on Wednesday at Hollywood
Park.
The
victory was the third in 12 starts for the 4-year-old Bernstein gelding out of
the Bright Launch mare Bright Orange. Owned by Budget Stable and trained by
Janet Armstrong, Lt. Hopeful has earned $111,680.
In
winning for the first time at Hollywood Park, Lt. Hopeful, a $25,000 yearling
purchase at the Keeneland September sale in 2007, dueled inside Sea Of Pleasure
for the lead, disposed of that one to open a clear advantage – 2 ½ lengths –
with an eighth of a mile to run, then lasted by a head over A Lil Dumaani.
Under
jockey Martin Pedroza, Lt. Hopeful ran the five furlongs over Cushion Track in
57.11 seconds. He returned $7.40, $4 and $3 as the 5-2 second choice.
Making
his first start since finishing fifth in the California Sky on the Santa Anita
turf last Oct. 28, A Lil Dumaani, the 3-1 fourth choice in the field of five,
paid $3.20 and $2.60.
The
show price on Triumphant Flight, who was making his initial appearance since he
trailed in the 2009 Woody Stephens, a Grade II, at Belmont
Park,
was $2.80. He finished 1 ½ lengths behind A Lil Dumaani.
Sea Of Pleasure
faded to fourth. He finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Locksley Hall, who trailed
throughout.
Although
he fell short with A Lil Dumaani, jockey Joel Rosario managed three wins
Wednesday. He took the first with heavily-favored Misinjennuous, the sixth with
Waafi ($13.60) and the eighth aboard Connagher ($11.20).
Rosario is third in the Hollywood Park
standings with 45 victories, seven less than leader Rafael Bejarano. Tyler Baze
is second with 50 wins.
In
the Pick Six, which began with a carryover of $136,973, there were three
winning tickets. Each was worth $217,879. An additional $930,687 was wagered on
the Pick Six Wednesday.