Formidable Man Faces Big Field in Hollywood Derby

Formidable Man  brings an unbeaten Del Mar record into the Nov. 30 Hollywood Derby (G1T). Yet despite that perfection, 12 others are preparing to line up against him. Several have taken him on in the past, and the field includes a couple of New York invaders who could pose challenges.

The biggest question is whether Formidable Man can continue his Del Mar streak for trainer Michael McCarthy, who also trained the colt's sire, 2018 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light  . Formidable Man is 3-for-3 at Del Mar, but 1-for-4 at Santa Anita Park and 0-for-2 at Churchill Downs.

Two of those three Del Mar victories came over the summer. Formidable Man posted back-to-back stakes wins, in the July 20 Oceanside Stakes at a mile and the Sept. 1 Del Mar Derby (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles under Umberto Rispoli, who returns on him from post 6. The colt hasn't competed since the Del Mar Derby, in which he scored by a half-length over Stay Hot  and Atitlan , both returning for the Hollywood Derby over the same course and distance. Formidable Man also ran second in the May 4 American Turf Stakes (G2T) at Churchill.

Donegal Momentum  is coming off back-to-back wins as well, in his case in New York. Trained by Thomas Morley, the son of Uncle Mo   broke his maiden first out by 8 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct Racetrack in May. After a second and a fourth, he nosed out Green Light  in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24 before taking the Oct. 3 Gio Ponti Stakes at a mile at Aqueduct. Javier Castellano, who has piloted Donegal Momentum in all of his starts except the Gio Ponti, will ride from post 7.

Trainer Christophe Clement trained Gio Ponti in the East but successfully shipped him to California to win such races as the 2009 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (G1T). Gio Ponti finished seventh in the 2008 Hollywood Derby when it was still run at Hollywood Park. Clement will try to win this edition of the race with Carson's Run , a son of Cupid  .

Carson's Run has three wins and one second in his last four starts. He won the 1 1/16-mile Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park and 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T). Second in the $2,337,160 Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) at 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs, Carson's Run is coming off a victory in the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct. Dylan Davis, who piloted him in that race, comes in to ride from post 4.

Chatalas  (post 3) is one of two fillies entered in the Hollywood Derby, with Kazushi Kimura aboard for the first time for trainer Mark Glatt. However, she is also nominated to the Dec. 1 Matriarch Stakes (G1T). The daughter of Gun Runner   has done most of her running in California—she broke her maiden at Del Mar in her debut last year—but her last three starts have come east of the Mississippi.

At Horseshoe Indianapolis when trained by Grant Forster, Chatalas won the July 6 Indiana Oaks (G3). Sixth in the Alabama Stakes (G1) for Glatt after shying early and being bumped, she finished third in the Sept. 21 Seneca Overnight Stakes at Churchill, in the latter again trained by Forster.

Many of the locals have taken turns beating each other. Atitlan won the Twilight Derby (G2T) over Stay Hot. Cathal  ran third in the Twilight Derby in his United States stakes debut. King of Gosford  won two stakes at Santa Anita and is coming off a win in the Oct. 31 Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar, in which Heart Headed  and British Isles  finished second and third.