Ashleyluvssugar Set for Hollywood Turf Cup

After a solid performance in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT), Ashleyluvssugar will return in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIT) Friday, Nov. 25, on the Del Mar turf.

Prior to the Breeders' Cup, the 5-year-old California-bred Game Plan gelding registered back-to-back grade II wins on turf in Southern California. On Aug. 20 he won the Del Mar Handicap presented by the Japan Racing Association (gr. IIT) before taking the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (gr. IIT) Oct. 2 at Santa Anita. Last year trainer Peter Eurton saddled Ashleyluvssugar to back to back grade II stakes wins at that distance in the San Luis Rey Stakes and the Charles Whittingham Stakes.

In the Turf, Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing’s Ashleyluvssugar tracked from third early under regular rider Gary Stevens and continued well to the wire to finish fifth, earning a spot in the top half of the 12-horse field. In that race a front-running Highland Reel launched an early move to open up seven lengths on his closest rival and powered home to a clear victory.

“That horse got away and (Ashleyluvssugar) didn’t seem to have his punch, but of course this is the Breeders’ Cup, so it could be that he just got outrun to a respectable fifth,” said Eurton after the race.

The Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes will be contested at 1 1/2 miles, the same distance as the Turf.

Ashleyluvssugar and Stevens are scheduled to start from the outside in the expected field of seven, a group that includes two other runners making their first starts since the Breeders’ Cup Turf in Ralis, who finished ninth; and Texas Ryano, who finished sixth. Warren Williamson's homebred Texas Ryano registered close finishes behind Ashleyluvssugar prior to the Breeders' Cup when third and a length back in the Del Mar Handicap and then just a half-length back when a fast-closing second in the John Henry. Trained by Carla Gaines, Texas Ryano will look to end an eight-race skid.

Trainer Doug O’Neill will send out a pair of starters in grade I winner Ralis, who is trying to halt his own 11-race drought, and Royal Albert Hall, who earned a grade II placing in the spring when third in the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland.

Reddam Racing's homebred Ralis won the 2015 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) on dirt at Saratoga Race Course and in his 3-year-old season this year, the California-bred son of Square Eddie   has finished second in three stakes on the turf, including the Sept. 4 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT). Royal Albert Hall enters Friday’s race off a third in an Oct. 14 allowance-optional claiming race on the Santa Anita turf, which marked his first start in nearly five months.

Bienstock or Winner’s Flamboyant won a pair of grade II races on the Santa Anita turf earlier this year and will try to bounce back from back to back eighth-place finishes in the Del Mar Handicap and the John Henry.