Tres Borrachos, a rejuvenated veteran with a history of past
success at Hollywood Park, is expected to face two newcomers to the track in
the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap, a Grade III test at 1 1/8 miles on Cushion
Track Saturday.
“He worked great yesterday, and he’s run well on this
track,” said trainer Marty Jones Sunday in reference to a five-furlong drill in
1:02.60 Saturday.
Tres Borrachos, a 6-year-old gelding, has won just four of
34 lifetime starts, but three of them have been on this surface, including a
victory in the 2008 Swaps Stakes. He also finished second in the 2009 Hollywood
Gold Cup.
Tres Borrachos awakened from a 13-race losing streak to win
the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in July and finish a closing third in the
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in his last outing. Joel Rosario has the call back.
The two new faces in the Native Diver belong to the
well-traveled Eldaafer and Rescue Squad, shipped here from New York by Hall of
Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
“He’ll probably runs if it comes up light,” said trainer
Brian Koriner, who has taken over the training of Eldaafer, shipped to Santa
Anita after a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon.
Eldaafer, a 6-year-old gelding, won the Breeders’ Cup
Marathon in 2010, a year after he captured the Brooklyn Handicap. Victorious in
11 of 32 starts, Eldaafer has raced at 13 different tracks.
Rescue Squad, a 5-year-old horse, has won only three of 16
starts but is two-for-two on synthetic surfaces, including an allowance victory
at Keeneland at 1 1/8 miles in his last outing on October 21.
“I think he’s here because he’s done well on Polytrack
before,” said Jennifer Patterson, assistant to McGaughey. “This was kind of the
next step.
“He’s done great since he got here,” said Patterson of the
horse, who was flown here Monday. “He seems to really like the track. He’s
going to breeze tomorrow.” Hall of Famer Mike Smith will ride Rescue Squad for
the first time.
Trainer John Sadler said he is considering both Gladding,
winner of the San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita, and Kettle Corn, a recent
allowance winner, for the Native Diver.
Summer Movie, another Native Diver nominee, worked five
furlongs in 1:00.20 Sunday.