Photo: Hollywood Park
Fillies
and mares from around the globe are gathering at Betfair Hollywood Park in
anticipation of the Grade I, $250,000 Matriarch at one mile on turf, to be run
Sunday, November 25. The Matriarch is part of the Hollywood Turf
Festival, which is scheduled November 23-25.
Already
on the grounds are Juddmonte Farm’s Emulous (Dermot Weld), winner of the 2011
Grade 1 Coolmore Matron Stakes in Ireland and third in the same race this year,
and J Al Thani’s Rjwa (Francois Rohaut), a close second in the Grade 1 Montieu
Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp in France. Rjwa is also eligible
for the $250,000 Hollywood Derby the same day.
Also
likely to run is Frankel, Frankel, Laymon and Bradley Thoroughbred’s
Dayatthespa, who captured the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Oct. 13 at
Keeneland. Trained by Chad Brown, Daytatthespa has won five in a row to
increase her earnings to $574,892.
Another
prominent nominee is Bolton and Leidel’s Future Generation (Cristophe Clement),
a Grade 3 winner last year and recently victorious in the Serena’s Cat Stakes
at Belmont Park. Overall, Future Generation has won six of 13 and earned
$239.380.
Back
for another try is Team Valor’s Summer Soiree (Graham Motion), who lost a
hard-fought decision to Star Billing in last year’s Matriarch.
Other
possibilities are Robert Evans’ Vamo a Galupiar (Neil Drysdale), Hoefflin,
Hollendorfer, et al’s Halo Dolly (Jerry Hollendorfer), Lanni Family Trust’s
Reneesgotzip (Peter Miller) and Jungle Racing, et al’s Mizdirection (Mike
Puype), recent winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
In
other Turf Festival news, Yvonne Jacques’ Grandeur (Ken McPeak) and Moyglare
Stud Farms’ Speaking of Which (Dermot Weld), 1-2 finishers in the Grade II
Twilight Derby at Santa Anita, are expected to renew their rivalry in the Grade
1, $250,000 Hollywood Derby, run the same day as the Matriarch.