Hollywood Derby Highlights Del Mar Closing Saturday

Closing Saturday at Del Mar always offers a great racing card, and today is no different: three graded stakes on the grass await track-goers and bettors.

The graded stakes committee will meet in a few weeks, and one thing is for sure: they won’t have to spend much time on the Hollywood Derby.  Its Grade 1 status is safe, and this year’s group should do no harm to that.  The past winners list of this race, which includes a who’s-who of turf horses - and even 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome - speaks to the long-standing quality attracted to this race.

While carrying its usual complement of Southern California-based runners, a quartet of shippers figure to play a big role in the outcome of this rendition.  Let’s meet the field, and put together our weekly wager.  If you’re wagering on the races in Southern California, check out our partners at AmWager!  They’ve got a 100% deposit match up to $150 for new customers.

Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.      1 ⅛ miles, turf.      3-year-olds.          $300,000.

1. Maaz. 5/1.        Jockey: Ricardo Gonzalez.        Trainer: Michael McCarthy.

Maaz comes from a competitive barn, and off of a great showing in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita.  Maaz was a willing runner up the rail when asked by jockey Ricardo Gonzalez.  I think Maaz is a step slower than the top of this group, but this is the kind of race McCarthy wins.

Comment: second-tier contender.

2. Friendly Confines. 6/1.    Jockey: Hector Berrios.    Trainer: Richard Baltas.

Friendly Confines has run 4 times this year, breaking his maiden in his first run this year before winning two back.  He ran a good 2nd most recently in the Let It Ride, a lower-level turf stakes at a mile over Breeders’ Cup weekend.  I think he’ll try similar tactics today, and try to rate on the front; the added distance is a question mark, one which I’ll play against.

Comment: second-tier contender.

3. Test Score. 5/2.    Jockey: Juan Hernandez.        Trainer: Graham Motion.

Test Score will be the favorite at post time, and a deserving one: he’s won 3 graded stakes races this year, all of them at different tracks in different states.  He won a a Grade 1 at Saratoga; a Grade 2 at Santa Anita; and a Grade 3 at Keeneland.  Jockey Juan Hernandez gets the mount here - he piloted the Motion-trained Speaking Scout to a win in this race in 2022.  He’s your favorite, and he should be.

Comment: most likely winner.

4. Salamis. 9/2.    Jockey: Umberto Rispoli.        Trainer: Chad Brown.

This is always a big weekend for Chad Brown, with Gulfstream opening its championship meet, and major stakes at Churchill and Del Mar being targets for his top turf horses.  Salamis adds to that list, shipping from Long Island for this one.  Salamis was excellent two back in the Gio Ponti at Aqueduct before running out of time in the Bryan Station at Keeneland.  He’s the best of the middle part of this group, and should figure in the trifecta.

Comment: contender.

5. Kokosan. 20/1.    Jockey: Armando Ayuso.        Trainer: John Sadler.

Kokosan comes in a maiden.  His best 3 runs have all come on grass, his most recent a near-miss.  This would be the upset of the weekend.

Comment: first toss.

7. Copp. 20/1.        Jockey: Kazushi Kimura.        Trainer: Michael McCarthy.

Copp began his career on dirt before making the move to turf in August.  A 2nd try on the grass yielded a win at Churchill Downs, and then a race against winners for good measure ahead of this one.  This is another big ask, but trainer Michael McCarthy clearly thinks this one has a ton of potential.  Toss today, but potentially a fun one to follow at 4.

Comment: toss.

8. Tempus Volat. 5/1.    Jockey: Mirco Demuro.        Trainer: Leonard Powell.

Tempus Volat - “Time Flies” - won the aforementioned Let It Ride last out.  That win is part of a surge by jockey Mirco Demuro, who has won 10 races from 33 starts at the current meet.  Breeding and how he’s finished races says Tempus Volat will like the added distance - and a win would put a perfect bow on the Demuro fall in Southern California.  I think it’s a big ask, but he’s certainly got a shot.

Comment: second-tier contender.

9. Tom’s Magic. 7/2.    Jockey: Antonio Fresu.        Trainer: Michael Stidham.

The last of the out-of-town shippers is Tom’s Magic, a near-winner of the million dollar King’s Plate at Woodbine outside Toronto.  He’s an Ontario-bred, and the winner of the Breeders’ Stakes in Canada.  He also won the Tale of the Cat at Monmouth this year.  He’s a bit of a wild card in this spot, and he’ll have to be faster than he’s ever been.

Comment: second-tier contender.

The Sporting Tribune Wager:

$10 Late Pick 3 ($60): 3,4,8 / 7 / 4,11.    Good luck!