Hollywood Talent Upsets Turf Monster at 108-1

King Star's Hollywood Talent  stunned the betting public at odds of 108-1 to secure his first graded victory at age 10 in the $300,000 Turf Monster Stakes (G3T) Sept. 25 at Parx Racing.

The veteran Talent Search  gelding was a multiple graded-placed juvenile in 2013 and continued to place in black-type events until winning the 2019 Marshall Jenney Handicap at Parx. He was third a start later in that year's Turf Monster but returned in the five-furlong dash Saturday for a 1 1/4-length victory on a turf course rated good.

Trained by Juan Vazquez for King Star, Hollywood Talent was claimed from a victory a year and two days earlier for $8,000 by Wallace Neilson at Delaware Park. He had lost six races since the claim, four times in starter allowances. He earned $168,000 in taking the Turf Monster.

"I am not surprised. I have been waiting for this race all year," Vazquez said. "He was third in the Monster (in 2019) and I knew I could win this race. There was a lot of speed in this race and I sent from behind and, really, felt very well. I liked it. I liked the soft ground. It rained a couple days ago and I liked the soft ground. I am very happy. I started to get excited when he got to the quarter pole and he was third and I saw the horses (in front fighting together) and I know he finishes very well."

Ricardo Santana Jr. rode Hollywood Talent and settled his mount wide off the pace in seventh early. Firecrow  and Admiral Abe  battled through the first half-mile while ticking off fractions of :22.63 and :46.44. Hollywood Talent began to make his move on the turn and kicked to the front down the stretch. He finished clear of his rivals in a final time of :59.51, returning $219.20 on a $2 win ticket.

"The track was soft today, and he was traveling really good," Santana said. "He was traveling beautiful, and I was really happy with him, when we turned for home and when I asked him the horse really responded well."

The Turf Monster was a special race for Santana to win with Vazquez.

"A lot of people don't know that I started with Juan Vazquez in 2009 at Delaware Park. I won my first (race), and I was riding everything for him, him and Ruben (Munoz), my agent," Santana said. "They brought me from Panama, and they signed my papers when I was 16 years old. I was riding everything for him. I'm really blessed to be with Juan Vazquez. Every horse I ride for him I have a shot." 

Beer Can Man , who chased the pace in fourth, got up for second by a neck over Admiral Abe. Firecrow was another half-length back in fourth.

The two favorites, Carotari  and Caravel , finished in a dead heat for sixth.

With a graded score now on Hollywood Talent's rèsumè, Vazquez in considering even bigger targets. 

"We might try the Breeders' Cup (Turf Sprint, G1T, Nov. 6 at Del Mar). He is a 10-year-old and I try to take care of him the best that I can," Vazquez said.

Hollywood Talent was bred in Pennsylvania by Ken and Sarah Ramsey out of the late Johannesburg  mare Intrinsic Value . The mare, who died in 2013, has four winners from six foals. Hollywood Talent is the richest of her produce with earnings of $635,071, accomplished with a 12-11-7 record from 52 starts.

Video: Turf Monster S. (G3T)