Prohibitive favorite Majestic City did exactly what was
expected, wiring four opponents in the $78,470 Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes
Sunday at Hollywood Park.
Returning a little more than three weeks after a clever debut
victory, the 2-year-old City Zip colt out of the Meadowlake mare
It’schemistrybaby broke quickly from the inside under jockey David Flores and
coasted to a comfortable 3 ½ length victory.
Completing the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.16, Majestic City, who
is owned by Majestic Racing Stable LLC and trained by Peter Miller, paid $2.40,
$2.10 and $2.10 as the 1-5 choice.
Purchased for $180,000 in March at a Florida sale, Majestic
City has earned $75,570 for his two wins.
Truco Latino, a 23-1 shot who had finished seven lengths
behind Majestic City in his initiation last month, completed the exacta. The
son of Silver Train did so despite bearing out severely early in the stretch.
He finished willingly beneath Agapito Delgadillo once he was straightened. The runner-up, who finished 9 ¼ lengths clear of
the rest of the field, paid $6.40 and $3.20.
Joyzey Billy, making his first start for trainer Cliff Sise,
Jr. after being purchased at the Barretts May sale by owners Bob Gunderson and
Doris Johnson, returned $3 to show.
Completing the order of finish were first time starters Cast
a Doubt and Anne’s Seven Cats. Swordsmanship was scratched.
“Relief. It actually is,’’ said Miller, explaining the
feeling after winning with such a heavy favorite. “You think you want to be the
favorite, and you do, but at the same time if he runs off the board I’m
sneaking out of here.
He ran about the way I thought he’d run. I thought he ran
about as well as he did the first time, just doing what David asked him to do.
The plan is to run him in the ($100,000) Hollywood Juvenile (Championship July
17). I think he’s very good.
“The way he trains, he just does everything so easily. He’s
never been outworked and never had a bad day. He seems to have more in the
tank, so we’ll hope so.’’
The victory was the third in Proctor in the last five years
for Miller, who had won previously with Thoroughly (2007) and Backbackbackgone
(2008).
Jockey Rafael Bejarano tripled for the second consecutive
day, expanding his advantage in the standings.
Through 33 days of the Spring/Summer meet, Bejarano has 40
victories, four more than defending champion Joel Rosario. Bejarano’s wins
Sunday came atop Mighty Caroline in the second, Itssultryinthecape in the fifth
and Bauble Queen in the seventh.