BC Turf Contenders Return in Hollywood Turf Cup

What's a better foundation for a grade 2 spin on the turf at 1 1/2 miles: an up-the-track defeat in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) or a good showing in a lesser grade 2 going 1 1/4 miles?

Tune in at 6:30 p.m. ET Nov. 26 to get the answer in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T) at Del Mar, where most of the seven contenders fit one of those conditions.

The Breeders' Cup refugees are Rockemperor , who finished eighth Nov. 6; Acclimate , who pressed the pace and faded to finish last of 14; and Astronaut , who was shuffled back to finish 12th. All were at long odds that day.

On the flip side, the Black Friday race has four horses who competed in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2T) Oct. 2, finishing second through fourth and a close-up sixth.

It is a bit of a trick question, though, since Acclimate participated in both races and finished second in the John Henry, nailed at the wire by United  after leading all the way.

Evaluating the Breeders' Cup results in this context can be tricky.

Rockemperor, a 5-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor , didn't get the best of trips in the big race and still was making up some ground in the stretch to be beaten only 6 1/2 lengths. Before shipping west for the Breeders' Cup, the Chad Brown trainee won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Belmont Park and he has been training at Santa Anita Park so travel is not an issue.

Brown removed blinkers from Rockemperor's equipment before the Turf Classic, a decision jockey Javier Castellano said made a difference. Still, Brown said he needed a push from owner Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables to supplement the horse.

"I have to give credit to Sol Kumin. He was the first one to text me and say, 'Shouldn't we think about the Joe Hirsch?'" Brown said after Rockemperor romped by two lengths. "Why not? He was doing really good and I've been really impressed with the horse in the morning. He's always a good work horse."

A victory in the Hollywood Turf Cup would be the fifth of Rockemperor's career in his 22nd start and would boost his earnings past the $1 million mark. Flavien Prat, who won in his only previous ride aboard Rockemperor, replaces Castellano.

Acclimate's Breeders' Cup was a true dud. He pressed a reasonable pace for the first mile, then stopped—an even worse trip than in the 2019 edition of the same race, where he reported ninth, beaten just 4 1/2 lengths. The 7-year-old Acclamation   gelding is 0-for-4 at the 1 1/2-mile trip although this year and in 2019 he did win the San Juan Capistrano (G3T) at 1 3/4 miles.

He likely will have competition for the lead in the Turf Cup. Award Winner , a 5-year-old Ghostzapper   gelding, also favors a forward position and drew the rail. He, too, has had trouble holding off rivals through the stretch.

Astronaut, a 4-year-old colt by Quality Road  , also had traffic issues in the Breeders' Cup, checked hard shortly before the quarter pole after racing in touch with the leaders. He came into that race off a 24-1 upset victory in the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) going 1 3/8 miles Aug. 21—a race in which Acclimate finished a fading third.

The John Henry contingent in the Hollywood Turf Cup is Acclimate, Friar's Road , Award Winner, and Cupid's Claws . The issue was hard-fought as Cupid's Claws was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths while finishing sixth.

Say the Word  completes the field.

Entries: Hollywood Turf Cup S. (G2T)

Del Mar, Friday, November 26, 2021, Race 7

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:33 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Award Winner (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	David E. Hofmans	12/1
2	2Friar's Road (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	122	Michael W. McCarthy	3/1
3	3Say the Word (ON)	Kent J. Desormeaux	126	Philip D'Amato	4/1
4	4Astronaut (KY)	Victor Espinoza	124	John A. Shirreffs	8/1
5	5Cupid's Claws (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Peter Miller	12/1
6	6Acclimate (CA)	Ricardo Gonzalez	122	Philip D'Amato	4/1
7	7Rockemperor (IRE)	Flavien Prat	126	Chad C. Brown	8/5