Photo: Hollywood Park
Mensa Heat, a four time winner since
being claimed April 15, is among seven set to go in the $80,000 On Trust
Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park.
Restricted to California breds at 7
½ furlongs over Cushion Track, the On Trust is the ninth of 10 races on the 26th
and final program of the Autumn meet. Post time is 12:30 p.m.
As part of the closing day
celebration, drawings for gift cards and other prizes will be held between races.
Owned by Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd. and
trained by Ted H. West, Mensa Heat has been worse than third only once in seven
starts since being taken for $25,000. The 5-year-old gelded son of Unusual Heat
and the Ole’ mare Chi Chi Nette is 8-for-40 in his career with earnings of
$366,258.
He has won twice for his current
connections at Hollywood Park, but both of those wins came on turf. This will
be the first start for Mensa Heat since he trailed as the 3-2 favorite in the
California Cup Sprint Oct. 29 at Santa Anita. Three weeks earlier, Mensa Heat
finished third – defeated by three-quarters of a length – by Amazombie in the
Grade I Ancient Title. Amazombie followed that performance with a victory in
the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
Undefeated in three starts over
Cushion Track, Red Defense enters off a turf victory for owner-breeder Harris
Farms, Inc. and trainer Carla Gaines. The 4-year-old gelded son of Redattore
and the Flying Continental mare Air Defense is 5-for-6 overall with a bankroll
of $145,116.
Chiloquin will be seeking his sixth
career win for trainer Scott Hansen, who co-owns the gelding with co-breeder
Carl Asadurian.
The 3-year-old son of Tribal Rule
and the Desert Mirage mare Zzyzzx Road has started 14 times and earned $239,484.
If successful Sunday, Chiloquin
would become the first 3-year-old to win the On Trust since Proud Tower Too in
2005.
Trainer John Sadler, who won the
2009 On Trust with Bestdressed, will saddle Scofield Barracks.
Runner-up against $40,000 claimers
Dec. 9 after being claimed for $32,000 by owners Gary and Cecil Barber Nov. 13,
Scofield Barracks has won five of 27 and has a bankroll of $230,650. He’s a
5-year-old One Man Army gelding out of the Native Regent mare Marrakech Gold.
Legal Separation will seek his
second local win of the year for owners Curt and Lila Lanning and trainer Ed
Moger, Jr. The 4-year-old Jackpot gelding out of the Storm Bird mare Stormy
Diplomat has won four of 23 and earned $172,138. He has lost three in a row
since a head victory in a July 14 allowance, his first in seven races over the
Hollywood Park main.
Spud Spivens cuts back a bit in
distance after defeating open optional claimers as the 8-5 choice at 1 1/16
miles Nov. 19.
Owned by Audrey and Vincent
Marchionno and trainer Henry Moreno, the 3-year-old Tizbud gelding out of the
Cutlass Reality mare Oceans Reality has won three of 16 and banked $162,134.
All of his wins have come in six starts over Cushion Track.
Mark the Bench returns in 11 days
after being claimed for $25,000 by owner-trainer Mike Mitchell. The 6-year-old
Benchmark horse out of the Summer Squall mare Stormy Stitch has won three of 38
with earnings of $205,151.
In his final start for owner-trainer
Joe Brook, Mark the Bench was second at 14-1 going six furlongs on grass. The
chestnut is 0-for-11 on synthetic.
From inside out, the field for the
28th On Trust Handicap: Spud Spivens, Garrett Gomez rides, 116
pounds; Red Defense, Joel Rosario, 121; Scofield Barracks, Hector Berrios, 113;
Mark the Bench, Martin Garcia, 112; Legal Separation, Victor Espinoza, 116;
Mensa Heat, Joe Talamo, 122 and Chiloquin, Martin Pedroza, 118.