Three is the magic number for trainer Phil D'Amato at Del Mar Nov. 29 as he sends a trio of runners to the post in an attempt to win his third $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T).
Divin Propos , Rockemperor , and Balnikhov exit the Sept. 28 California Crown John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita Park. All raced in the back half of the 11-horse field early and they finished sixth, ninth, and 10th, respectively.
"The John Henry was just a paceless race," D'Amato said. "They went three quarters in (1:15.13) on a fast turf course and the first three finishers were on a merry-go-round all the way around there."
The trio will get their shot at redemption going 1 1/2 miles Friday, hopeful that pace plays more favorably this time. Each is capable of a top-class performance on his day.
Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, and Old Bones Racing Stable's Balnikhov is the only one of the three to taste graded success this season, which came over soft turf at Pimlico Race Course in the Dinner Party Stakes (G3T). Between that May victory and the John Henry, he was third in a pair of Del Mar grade 2s. This will be the 5-year-old Adaay gelding's first start at the distance.
Rockemperor, who races for Madaket, Wonder Stables, Michael Caruso, Michael Dubb, and Michael Kisber, has not won since the July 2022 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course but has been a constant presence at the top level across the country and often finds himself within a few lengths of victory.
The John Henry was Divin Propos' first stakes appearance in the United States, having previously won two of three allowance starts stateside. He is owned by Madaket, Panic Stable, and William Strauss.
The horse responsible for the "paceless" John Henry was Kretz Racing's Cabo Spirit , who took the field gate-to-wire in a length victory. He took a shot at doing the same thing in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar but faded to finish 12th. That was his only start over 1 1/2 miles, but this time the George Papaprodromou trainee will get serious class relief.
Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Dicey Mo Chara stalked Cabo Spirit in the early stages of the John Henry before finishing fourth, beaten two lengths. Trainer Leonard Powell books Flavien Prat, who is 2-for-2 on the gelding, to ride.
The hot hand entering Friday belongs to Jonathan Thomas, who Nov. 24 saddled Mrs. Astor to victory in Del Mar's 1 3/8-mile Red Carpet Stakes (G3T). The trainer brought another Augustin Stables homebred with him to Del Mar in Truly Quality , winner of the Oct. 5 Singspiel Stakes (G3T) at Woodbine.
Del Mar, Friday, November 29, 2024, Race 7Entries: Hollywood Turf Cup S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
98
1Rimprotector (KY)
SCRATCHED
0
UNKNOWN
-
1
2Cabo Spirit (KY)
Victor Espinoza
124
George Papaprodromou
12/1
2
3Dicey Mo Chara (GB)
Flavien Prat
122
Leonard Powell
4/1
3
4Divin Propos (FR)
Umberto Rispoli
122
Philip D'Amato
5/1
4
5Rockemperor (IRE)
Juan J. Hernandez
122
Philip D'Amato
10/1
5
6Fearless Soldier (KY)
Kyle Frey
122
Anthony K. Saavedra
20/1
6
7None Above the Law (CA)
Tiago Josue Pereira
122
Jorge Periban
20/1
7
8Nineeleventurbo (KY)
Antonio Fresu
122
Neil D. Drysdale
8/1
8
9Balnikhov (IRE)
Kazushi Kimura
122
Philip D'Amato
6/1
9
10Goldeneye (KY)
Ricardo Gonzalez
122
Peter Eurton
12/1
10
11Truly Quality (KY)
Vincent Cheminaud
122
Jonathan Thomas
5/2