Photo: Hollywood Park
For
the second time in 2010, Victor’s Cry sprung an upset in a significant turf
race at Hollywood
Park.
Some
six months removed from his 21-1 surprise in the Shoemaker Mile, the 5-year-old
son of Street Cry struck again Saturday, rallying strongly at 11-1 to win the
$250,000 Citation Handicap.
Meanwhile,
there were no perfect tickets once more in the Pick Six at Golden Gate Fields.
The carryover for Sunday is $350,262. Post time at Golden
Gate is 12:45 p.m. The Pick Six commences in the fourth race.
Owned
by Equilete Stable and trained by Eoin Harty, Victor’s Cry, a late running
Virginia bred, found a seam in deep stretch under Victor Espinoza and burst
away to win by 1 ¾ lengths.
Now
3-for-5 on the Hollywood
Park grass, Victor’s Cry,
who is out of the Clever Trick mare Short Time, ran the 1 1/16 miles in
1:39.86. He’s won six of 20 overall and banked $564,021.
While
providing both trainer and jockey with their first win in the Grade II,
Victor’s Cry keyed a longshot trifecta.
Proudinsky,
making his first start since he won the San Gabriel Handicap last Dec. 27 at
Santa Anita, was second at 15-1. He finished a nose in front of 28-1 outsider
Meteore. Court Vision, the 7-5 favorite, was fourth, a head behind Meteore, in
a failed quest to win a second Turf Festival race. The son of Gulch had won the
2008 Hollywood Derby in his only previous visit.
Victor’s
Cry paid $24.40, $12 and $6.20. Proudinsky returned $15.40 and $8.20. The show
price on Meteore was $11.40. The $1 trifecta was worth $1,943.60.
“My
horse was nice and relaxed, way, way back,’’ said Espinoza. “Right before the
three-eighths pole, I just let him slighty move up, little by little. There
were a lot of horses in front of me and I just wanted to make sure I’d have a
great trip.
“I
didn’t want him to get stopped under any circumstances because he’s such a big
horse. This was the first time I was on him, so I didn’t know how he was going
to react. Turning for home I was just waiting.
“There
was just enough room to get through and when I turned him loose, he had a
really strong kick. I just had to show him the whip, I didn’t really have to
hit him. He won easily. I was very impressed.’’
Enriched
finished fifth, a nose back of Court Vision, then came Bruce’s Dream, Colgan’s
Chip, who led for the opening six furlongs, Violon Sacre, Ryehill Dreamer and
Liberian Freighter.
Two
races before the Citation, Comma to the Top continued his winning ways, taking
the $100,000 Generous Stakes in his turf debut.
Three
weeks after prevailing by 6 ¼ lengths in his first around two turns in the Real
Quiet, Comma to the Top made it four victories in a row in his initial try in a
graded race.
Owned
by Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Kevin Tsujihara and trained by Peter Miller,
the 2-year-old gelded son of Bwana Charlie and the Stormy Atlantic mare Maggies
Storm was ridden by Corey Nakatani. The win was the 14th Turf
Festival victory for Nakatani, tops among all jockeys, and his fourth in the
Generous.
Completing
the mile in 1:34.77 in the Grade III, Comma to the Top pushed his earnings to
$176,600. The Florida
bred has won five of nine. The wins during his streak have been by a combined
18 lengths.
Comma
to the Top quickly took charge, shrugged off closest pursuer Divine Child to
draw clear into the stretch, then held by 1 ¾ lengths despite drifting out in
the final eighth of a mile. He paid $4, $3.40 and $2.40.
Moment
of Weakness, who split horses late at nearly 18-1, gained second, a nose in
front of 4-1 third choice Surrey Star. Moment of Weakness paid $12.60 and $5.60
while Surrey Star returned $3.60 to show.
Miller
indicated Comma to the Top will return to Cushion Track for his next
appearance.
“He’s
going to the (CashCall) Futurity (Dec. 18), but turf is a nice option for next
year and things like that,’’ said Miller. “I didn’t want to train him for six
weeks up to the Futurity because he’s a big, heavy horse and he takes some
training. The last race was pretty easy on him.
“This
is a really good horse and he’s just starting to come around. He won real easy
and I was really pleased with his performance today.’’