Weekend Stakes Races: Grade I Triple Bend and Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup

Hollywood Park’s biggest race during their spring meeting, the Hollywood Gold Cup, is this Saturday.

Before Hollywood Park runs the Gold Cup, they will run the Triple Bend.

Both figure to be interesting, competitive, and possibly profitable races.

Weekend Stakes Races – Saturday

Hollywood Park – Race 6

Where: Inglewood, CA

When: July 10th, 2010 at 6:35 pm EST

TV: TVG

$250,000 Grade I Triple Bend Handicap

For Three-Year-Olds And Upward

7 furlongs over cushion track

Gayego hasn’t run in over 3 months but it shouldn’t matter.

The son of Gilded Time who has won over $1.4 million is 2 for 2 over Hollywood Park’s cushion track, won the Grade I Ancient Title last fall at Santa Anita, and picks up jockey Rafael Bejarano.

He’s close to a lock in this race. For most of his career, E Z’s Gentleman spent time in the allowance and optional claiming ranks. That is, until he ran 2nd in the Grade III Los Angeles Handicap in his last.

He’s got every right to be very good again and trainer Bob Baffert is winning at a 30% clip at the Hollywood Park meet. He’s the danger to Gayego. M One Rifle might be over bet in this spot.

Nobody is as fast as he is early, but he’s not exactly on fire going into this after losing his last two races by a combined 10 ½ lengths. He could take the lead and be long gone but at the expected horse betting odds, he’s a play against to win.

1. Gayego
2. E Z’s Gentleman
3. M One Rifle

Hollywood Park – Race 8

Where: Inglewood, CA

When: July 10th, 2010 at 7:35 pm EST

TV: TVG

$500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup

For Three-Year-Olds And Upward

1 1/4th miles over cushion track

A field of 7 will line-up for the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup. I’m a bit disappointed that no more than 7 horses have shown up for a $500,000 purse.

Rail Trip figures to go off at 6 or 7 to 5 in this spot meaning that he’s a definite play against. I believe it’s going to be tough to keep Richard’s Kid out of the winner’s circle.

Yes, he, like Gayego, is running in this after an extended vacation and a lot of times horses that failed in Dubai come back not wanting to run, but that trainer, that Baffert guy…he knows what he’s doing. Kid has been training beautifully in the mornings for this. He’s the pick.

Rail Trip should hang on for 2nd. The Ron Ellis trainee has 5 victories and 2 seconds out of 7 starts at Hollywood Park. He loves the cushion track, should get a nice stalking trip behind Tres Borrachos and Compari and he figures.

Of course, he’ll be unplayable to win because of the likely horse bet odds. Out of the two likely front-runners, Compari figures to do the best.

The son of Redattore might be better on turf, but Tres Borrachos has lost a step and Compari has gotten better since winning the Snow Chief Stakes over the cushion last April.

1. Richard’s Kid
2. Rail Trip
3. Compari

Good luck!

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