Hollywood Hills continues to improve for trainer Steve Sherman, as she won her 4th consecutive today. Race 7 on the card was a 40k Allowance/ Optional Claimer going 6f on the main track. She sat last of the field of nine and waited patiently on the rail for the race to unfold in front of her. Jockey Austin Solis began to ask her on the far turn, where she moved up the rail steadily. In the stretch she showed her potent kick and was able to run down pace-setting Boomchicaboom. After dead-heating with Hollywood Hills last time, Empressive Cat could only manage 3rd today. The fractions for the race were 22.52 45.37 57.59 1:10.66. This 3yo daughter of Hoorayforhollywood is a home-bred for owner George Krikorian and now has 5 wins from 7 starts. She broke her maiden in August in a $12,500 claimer by 4 lengths at Golden Gate Fields. Hollywood Hills was able to build a lot of confidence in Starter Allowance races, and is now winning races at the allowance level. She continues to improve, and having been able to use her conditions has allowed for her to grow a lot.
Some notable results on the rest of the card:
The 8th race, a first condition allowance, was won by Royal Descendent. Making her 1st start since September, and now under the care of trainer Andy Mathis, she was able to stalk the pace and run on gamely in the stretch. The class relief helped, as she was running in a G3 down south over the summer.
Also, in the 3rd race today, Midnight Flower took them gate-to-wire winning by an impressive 4 lengths. This was her 1st win in 3 starts for trainer Andy Mathis. The blinkers seemed to help, and she could appreciate a route of ground in the future– she is by Midnight Lute out of an AP Indy mare.
Lastly, in the 2nd race, Katya Antipova won her 3rd consecutive race. She is trained by William Delia and took the 8k claimer by a neck at odds of 11/1.
Jockeys: Juan Hernandez had a huge day winning 3 races on the 9-race program– he had wins in the 1st, 3rd, and 8th. Also, Catalino Martinez and Abel Cedillo had strong days winning 2 races each.
- Cedillo *24* 2. Hernandez *22* 3. Martinez *11*
Trainers: Jonathan Wong and Andy Mathis each bagged 2 winners on the day. Wong won the 4th with Private Marini and the 5th with Johnny Reb. Mathis won the 3rd with Midnight Flower and the 8th with Royal Descendent.
- Wong *16* T-2. Wright, Delia *9*
There will be live racing on Dollar Day Sunday with a 9-race program starting at 12:45pm. And there is also an 8-race card on Monday for MLK Day.
NorCal Horse Racing News 