Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude will make his turf debut in the $70,000 Tsunami Slew Stakes Friday night at Hollywood Park.
Owned by Arnold Zetcher and trained by Bob Baffert, the son of War Chant and the Groom Dancer mare Midnight Kiss will face six other three 3-year-olds in the race at one mile.
After edging Comma to the Top by a head at nearly 14-1 in the Santa Anita Derby, Midnight Interlude ran in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but failed to threaten in either of the first two Triple Crown events. The bay colt finished 16th at Churchill Downs and 13th at Pimlico.
Bred to move up on the grass being a son of a former Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, Midnight Interlude will be seeking his third career win in his seventh start Friday. He has earned $649,680.
Owned by Ingrid Truman and trained by Carla Gaines, Temple’s Door will attempt to remain undefeated in his third start.
After defeating $50,000 maidens in his March 31 debut going eight furlongs on the grass at Santa Anita, the Leroidesanimaux colt out of the Halling mare Chetak stretched to 1 ¼ miles when defeating older rivals May 5 at Hollywood Park.
The even money favorite in the optional claimer, Temple’s Door won by 1 ¾ lengths, beating a field that included next out winner Victorian Prince.
Purchased for $40,000 at the May 2010 Barretts sale, Temple’s Door has earned $49,800.
Surrey Star returns to California after finishing sixth in the Grade II American Turf May 6 at Churchill Downs. Owned by Class Racing Stable and trained by Jim Cassidy, the Irish bred son of Dubawi and the Fantastic Light mare Turning Light has won two of 13 and earned $119,570.
Since arriving in the United States late last year, Surrey Star has one win in five attempts, the victory coming in the La Puente Stakes April 10 at Santa Anita.
War Pilot has won consecutive races over the Hollywood Park turf for owner B.J. Wright and trainer Mike Pender.
A War Front ridgling out of the With Approval mare To Be Approved, War Pilot ended 2010 with a maiden victory going 1 1/16 miles last Nov. 6, then returned with a win at six furlongs May 13, rallying along the inside to upset heavily favored Vaundell in the allowance.
Third behind eventual California Cup Juvenile winner Slammer Time in his first appearance on turf last Oct. 11 during the Oak Tree meet, War Pilot has won two of five and banked $65,570.
The well-traveled Extensive will make his first start in California in the Tsunami Slew for Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor.
A Purge gelding out of the Theatrical mare Zambia, Extensive arrives after a third place finish in the Arlington Classic over a yielding turf course May 28 at Arlington Park. The Florida bred, never worse than third in six career starts, has won twice, banking $90,065.
Before his race at Arlington, Extensive had competed at Keeneland, Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Jaime Lloyd for a partnership that includes Anthony Grey and Jose Singer, Moment of Weakness will be making his 2011 debut. Idle since finishing third in the Eddie Logan Stakes Dec. 31 at Santa Anita, the Irish bred gelding has won two of eight and earned $80,579. He’s a son of Big Bad Bob and the Night Shift mare Kristal’s Dream.
Every Ego has won two in a row for CAM Racing LLC and trainer Marcelo Polanco. The gelded son of Borrego and the Grindstone mare Climbeverymountain defeated $20,000 maidens by a neck going 6 ½ furlongs over Cushion Track May 6, then returned eight days later, winning his turf debut by 1 ½ lengths at 25-1. The grass victory came at the Tsunami Slew distance. Now 2-for-4, Every Ego has banked $33,800.
From inside out, the field for the Tsunami Slew Stakes: Every Ego, Tyler Baze rides, 119 pounds; War Pilot, Martin Pedroza, 119; Moment of Weakness, Joel Rosario, 117; Surrey Star, Joe Talamo, 123; Temple’s Door, Chantal Sutherland, 119; Midnight Interlude, Rafael Bejarano, 123 and Extensive, Garrett Gomez, 119.
The Tsunami Slew is the seventh of eight races. Post time Friday is 7:05 p.m.
