Photo: Hollywood Park
Making his first start since April 14, Lucky Primo led
nearly every step of the way to win the $71,800 Golden State Cup Thursday at
Hollywood Park.
An 8-1 shot in a field reduced to five after the scratch of
Nahem, Lucky Primo was one of three upsets in the Pick 6, so there will be a
carryover of $64,989 when racing resumes Friday night. Post time is 7:05 p.m.
The Pick 6 begins in the third race.
Owned by J B K Stables and Jason Litt and trained by Joshua
Litt, Lucky Primo set rapid fractions while he and the filly Logical Single
opened up about 10 lengths on the rest of the field, put away the 5-2 second
choice to draw well clear entering the stretch and easily held 1-2 favorite
Norvsky safe. The final margin was 2 ½ lengths in a race restricted to California breds.
Bred by the Litts and Dennis O’Neill, the 5-year-old Atticus
gelding out of the Personal Flag mare Live Free Or Die won for the fourth time
in 11 starts. He increased his earnings to $236,632.
Ridden by Tyler Baze, who doubled Thursday, Lucky Primo ran
the mile on turf in 1:34.49. He is now 2-for-2 on the Hollywood Park
grass, having previously won a $53,120 allowance June 26, 2010. He paid $19,
$5.40 and $2.60.
Second as the public choice for a third consecutive race,
Norvsky returned $2.20 and $2.10. The show price on Renegade Storm, who
finished one length behind Norvsky, was $2.80. Completing the order of finish
were Baton Roo and Logical Single, who was coming off a victory against her own
sex in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes May 22.
Jockey Martin Garcia didn’t have a mount in the Golden State
Cup, but had his second consecutive multiple win day at Hollywood Park. After
having four victories Sunday, Garcia had three more Thursday, winning the
second with Tuesdays With P, the fifth with Tenacious Tina and the eighth
aboard Favorable.
At the conclusion of the Friday night program –
approximately 10:30 p.m. – a concert featuring English Beat will begin at the
North Park Lawn.
OVERNIGHT PURSE INCREASE BEGINS JUNE 30
Hollywood
Park will increase
overnight purses by 10 percent for the final three weeks of the Spring/Summer
meet.
The
hike becomes effective Thursday, June 30 and will continue through Sunday, July
17, closing day of the 54-day season.