John Sadler will try to become only the second trainer to win the Generous Stakes in consecutive years when he sends out a pair in the Grade III Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The $100,000 Generous for 2-year-olds shares the spotlight on the second day of the Turf Festival with the $100,000 Miesque, which is restricted to 2-year-old fillies. Both races are at one mile. The Generous will go as the fifth of 10 while the Grade III Miesque is the ninth. Post time is 12:30 p.m. and track gates will open at 10 a.m.
The Pick Six pool is guaranteed at $150,000, as it has been and will continue to be every Saturday throughout the Autumn meet. Should the pool reach $200,000, Happy Hour food and drink specials will be available at Whittingham’s Pub. The pool was $217,133 Nov. 10 and $259,721 Nov. 17.
Additionally, a single winning Pick Six ticket –purchased either at Betfair Hollywood Park or through Television Games Network (TVG) – will earn a bonus – a 2013 Toyota Prius courtesy of Toyota of Orange.
Sadler, who won the 2011 Generous with Stoney Fleece, will try to match Jerry Fanning, who repeated with Overtrump in 1984 after winning with Artichoke a year earlier.
Both of Sadler’s runners – Rising Legend and Under Review – will be making their first start for the stable after being private purchases.
A son of Rock of Gibraltar and the Miswaki mare Miswaki Belle, Rising Legend enters off back-to-back turf victories in England, the most recent Sept. 15 at Doncaster at the Generous distance.
Owned by Hronis Racing LLC, the English-bred chestnut earned those victories after finishing second or third in his first four races. He’s earned $25,563.
Owned by a partnership that includes Lloyd DeBruycker and Tim Mickelson, the younger brother of PGA star Phil Mickelson, Under Review began his career going 1-for-2 in September at Arlington Park for former owner Scott Ricker and trainer Wayne Catalano.
After defeating $50,000 maidens by a head going 5 ½ furlongs over Polytrack Aug. 26, the Even the Score colt stretched to a mile on turf and finished second, beaten by a half-length. Out of the Honour and Glory mare Image of Honor, Under Review has earned $22,800.
Den’s Legacy will stretch out for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won the 2001 Generous with Mountain Rage, after finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Owned by Westrock Stables LLC, the Medaglia d’Oro colt out of the War Chant mare Sunshine Song has one win in six starts and a bankroll of $101,350. He was second behind Gervinho in the Oct. 8 Zuma Beach in his lone try at one mile on grass.
Shining Copper, whose lone win came at the Generous distance on the Del Mar grass Aug. 15, will be making his first appearance since finishing fifth in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Sept. 5.
A gelded son of Aragorn out of the Winged Victory mare La Minuta, Shining Copper has started three times for Sumaya U.S. Stables and Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale, who won this race in 1999 with Jokerman. Shining Copper has banked $54,000.
Tree of Life returns to California after suffering his first defeat when 10th of 13 in the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity Oct. 6 at Keeneland.
Trained by Craig Dollase for West Point Thoroughbreds, the Lion Heart colt out of the Gulch mare Professora began his career with two wins, upsetting maidens at nearly 23-1 Aug. 18 before capturing the Barretts Juvenile Sept. 16 at Fairplex Park. Tree of Life, who will be making his grass debut Saturday, has earned $98,550.
Counting Day will debut for Swift Thoroughbreds and trainer Carla Gaines after being purchased privately after a 10 ¼ length win versus $50,000 maidens over the Keeneland Polytrack Oct. 20.
The Mingun gelding out of the Exbourne mare Cuanto Es had finished fourth in his first two starts – both on turf – before his blowout victory. He’s earned $17,350.
Christopher Street surprised maidens at 12-1 in his second start for trainer Marty Jones Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Owned by Emily Wygod, the Unusual Heat gelding out of the Meadowlake mare Papoose Bay has earned $37,010.
Third in the Zuma Beach, Dancin Upside Down has one win in four starts for Sheehy LLC and trainer Carl O’Callaghan and earnings of $20,050. The War Chant colt out of the Old Trieste mare Spencers Storm wired $20,000 maidens by six lengths Aug. 25 at Golden Gate Fields.
One Firm Cat will make his first start beyond 6 ½ furlongs for trainer Peter Miller after finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview.
Owned by Altamira Racing Stable, Jeff Fink and John Petrig, the Cowtown Cat gelding out of the Affirmed mare Affirmed Toor has one win in four attempts and earnings of $50,700.
Ekahi will be trying turf for the first time for Hans Partnership and trainer Moon Han in his initial try since defeating $32,000 maidens Sept. 19 at Fairplex. The gelded son of Langfuhr out of the Lord Avie mare Smuggle has banked $16,060 in four races.
From inside out, the field for the 30th Generous Stakes: One Firm Cat, Kevin Krigger rides, 116; Under Review, Rafael Bejarano, 114; Rising Legend, Julien Leparoux, 118; Den’s Legacy, Garrett Gomez, 116; Dancin Upside Down, Edwin Maldonado, 114; Tree of Life, Aaron Gryder, 118; Ekahi, Saul Arias, 114; Christopher Street, Mike Smith, 116; Shining Copper, David Flores, 116 and Counting Days, Victor Espinoza, 114.
Sadler will have a chance for the first Generous-Miesque sweep since Todd Pletcher won both races in 2007 with The Leopard (Generous) and Sea Chanter (Miesque).
Pussycat Lips will make her first start in this country and first for Sadler and Hronis Racing after going 1-for-2 in her native Ireland. The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor and the Sadler’s Wells mare On The Nile won by 3 ¼ lengths over maidens July 16 at Kilarney after finishing third in her June 27 bow. She has earned $10,161.
Flashy Ways will try to rebound for trainer Richard Baltas after finishing 11th of 14 in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Owned by Riley Racing Stable, the Catienus filly out of the Carson City mare Golden Kitty has started her career with consecutive victories, including the Surfer Girl Stakes – at the Miesque distance – Oct. 8. She has a bankroll of $81,600.
Miss Empire enters off a win in her turf debut for owners Gary and Cecil Barber and Kevin Tsujihara and Miller. The daughter of Empire Maker and the Rajab mare Miss Excitement won the Pike Place Dancer by a neck as the 1-2 favorite Oct. 27 at Golden Gate.
The victory was the second in seven outings for Miss Empire and increased her bankroll to $207,120. Her first win came in the Cinderella Stakes June 16 during the Spring/Summer meet.
In search of his first Miesque score, trainer Doug O’Neill will send out a pair of private purchases – European imports Birdlover and Redressthebalance.
Now owned by a partnership that includes Steve Keh and W.C. Racing, Birdlover won once in three starts in her native England while earning $11,421. Both of her losses came on turf as she graduated over Polytrack Oct. 18 at Kempton. The chestnut is by Byron out of the Bold Edge mare Bird Over.
An Irish bred daughter of Ramonti and the Distant View mare Lady Naomi, Redressthebalance is owned by Rutherford Group, Ltd. She was winless in three starts in France and England and earned $2,754.
Chad Brown, a former assistant to the late Bobby Frankel and one of the rising training stars in thoroughbred racing, will be represented by Premier Steps, another Irish bred, who is owned by Swift Thoroughbreds.
The daughter of Footstepsinthesand and the Second Set mare Primissima was 1-for-5 in France and England while earning $40,654. In her most recent start, Premier Steps was beaten by a neck while finishing in a dead heat for second in a Group III at Deauville.
Travesura will try more distance after an impressive 3 ¾ length win in her grass debut at about 6 ½ furlongs Oct. 7 at Santa Anita. The Limehouse filly out of the Tale of the Cat mare Tempestra has started twice for Val-U-Chem Inc. and trainer Jeff Mullins and earned $35,600.
Beaten by a neck at 10-1 in the Pike Place Dancer in her first try on turf, Butterfly Soul will be seeking her third victory in her fifth start for owner Johnny Taboada and trainer Genaro Vallejo. The Henny Hughes filly out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Zada Rae has earned $55,300. Her most recent win came at 23-1 when capturing the Phil D. Shepherd Stakes Sept. 14 at Fairplex.
Worse than third only once in five starts on grass, Somethingabouther returns to Southern California after finishing third in the Pike Place Dancer. Owned by Deron Pearson and trained by Jim Cassidy, the War Chant filly out of the Mt. Livermore mare Mountain Bonfire is 1-for-6 overall and has banked $56,800.
From inside out, the field for the 21st Miesque Stakes: Somethingabouther, Mike Smith rides, 116 pounds; Travesura, Tyler Baze, 116; Birdlover, Edwin Maldonado, 116; Miss Empire, Corey Nakatani, 122; Premier Steps, Julien Leparoux, 116; Butterfly Soul, Juan Hernandez, 118; Pussycat Lips, Garrett Gomez, 116; Redressthebalance, Rafael Bejarano, 118 and Flashy Ways, Joe Talamo, 122.
