Hollywood Turf Cup; Lucayan Looking To Score First North American Win

2013 Hollywood Turf Cup (GII); Lucayan Looking To Score First North American Win

The 31st running of the Hollywood Turf Cup takes place this Saturday, December 14th at Betfair Hollywood Park and is the final running before the racetrack closes this month. The race is run at 1 ½ miles on the grass for 3 year-olds and up for a purse of $250,000.

Horses who previously ran in the Breeders’ Cup Turf often run in the Hollywood Turf Cup since it is the last major turf race of the year. As with all Hollywood Park turf stakes, it was on hiatus in 2005.

John Henry’s win in 1983 made him the first racehorse to surpass $4 million in career earnings. The 1991 winner Miss Alleged is the only filly to ever win this race. The turf cup was run in two heats in 1982 and raced at 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs) in 1982 and 1983. The speed record is held by Boboman set in 2006 at 2:24.61. The most wins by a jockey are Chris McCarron with 8 and the most wins by a trainer are from Robert Frankel with 4.

The 2013 Hollywood Turf Cup is the 3rd race of the day on card of 10 set to post at 1:30 pm, PST .

This field of 6 fellows looks to be headlined by Pandora Stud’s 4 year-old son of Turtle Bowl (IRE) the French bred Lucayan. Last out he was 9th in the Pattison Canadian International Turf Stakes (GI) going 1 1/2 miles on October 27th where he broke well, stalked mid-pack but flattened out in the final stretch on yielding turf. Prior on September 29th, he was 3rd in the Santa Anita John Henry Turf Championships (GII) at 1 1/4 miles.

Lucayans best race most recently was in the Del Mar Handicap (GII) on August 24th where he chased the pace, was running hard in mid-stretch inside to finish 2nd to Vagabond Shoes. This runner is from the barn of Neil Drysdale and is seeking his first victory in his seventh start in North America and he does have a second behind Obviously in the (GII) American Handicap on May 25th. He has been training at Hollywood Park since late October. On December 8th Lucayan worked 6F in 1:14.40 5/10 and on December 1st he posted a 4F breeze in 49.20 34/63. Lucayan breaks from post #6 with Rosario up to ride.

Another to look at is the lightly raced prodigy of Giant’s Causway and Seattle Slew/Slow Down, Segway, who is trained by Richard Mandella. This 4 year-old will be stepping up into a graded race for the first time in his career after winning an optional claimer by 1 1/2 lengths on October 27th at Santa Anita. He has been dirt training at Santa Anita where he recently worked 6F in 1:15.40 7/7 on December 7th and on December 2nd he worked 1 mile in 1:41.20 1/4. Segway obtains the services of Mike Smith from post #3.

This is a small but savy field with Temeraine and Lucayan having both ran this distance in their last races at Woodbine in the Pattison Canadian International and both flattened out in the final stretch. I’ve been on Lucayan’s bandwagon most of the season hoping he would get his first U.S. win. I think he has a good shot here with Rosario up and the outside post. I mean, come one, it has to happen sometime right? Temeraine is probably the one to beat with Stevens riding but I’m giving Lucayan the one-up here. I like Segway to hit the board. He is dirt training so this should be interesting. I doubt I bet this race but if I were I’d do my usual $2 exacta wheel with 3 6/1,2,3,4,5,6. $20, if the odds are looking somewhat playable post-race or use them in a leg of the Pick 3 along with Temeraine. Best of luck to all of the runners and and their connections.

Hollywood Turf Cup Post Positions & Odds
1. Arctic North 4/1 J.Talamo/P.Miller
2. Irish Surf 10/1 J.Valdivia Jr./D.Hendricks
3. Segway 7/2 M. Smith/R.Mandella
4. Huntsville 8/1 C.Nakatani/B.Abrams
5. Temeraine 9/5 G. Stevens/T.Proctor
6. Lucayan 5/2 (FR) J.Rosario/N.Drysdale
UPDATED RESULTS: 6, 5, 3, 2, 1, 4

Related Links:
What to wear to Hollywood Park
Native Diver Handicap
CashCall Futurity Stakes