Victory Music game in Xtra Heat
LAUREL, MD—After Hollywood Import’s first three starts, trainer Gary Capuano felt he had a talented runner. After all, the bay colt rallied from last to win his debut at Delaware Park and made up a lot of ground to finish second in Laurel’s James F. Lewis III Stakes on November 8.
Although Hollywood Import disappointed as the favorite in his third attempt, finishing fourth in a first-level allowance race on November 23, Capuano believed he had observed something significant.
“He didn’t like [kickback],” said Capuano after Hollywood Import once again used pacesetting tactics to capture his second consecutive stakes, Wednesday’s $100,000 Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds racing seven furlongs at Laurel. “I told [jockey J.G. Torrealba] that if he found himself back there and got that dirt in his face, he wouldn’t like it, so you have to make him get in there. And he did.”
Torrealba, subbing for an absent Mychel Sanchez, placed Hollywood Import on the lead and the inside, and the horse controlled very manageable fractions of 24.17 and 48.66 seconds.
At the quarter-pole, however, things looked dicey as Close the Gate ranged up outside Hollywood Import and surged to a short lead in the upper stretch.
Hollywood Import was up for the challenge, though, and he roared back inside Close the Gate to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:26.36 on the fast track. Maryland Juvenile Stakes winner Code of Silence, who broke slowly from his rail post, rallied stoutly along the fence for third, a length behind the runner-up.
“You never know, especially with a young horse. A lot of times, when horses pass you, they don’t come back,” Capuano said. “[Close the Gate] went by him. [Hollywood Import] has talent.”
Favored Trendsetter finished fourth, with Wild Warrior, Awesome Andy, and Hardtoblame finishing behind. Star Sweeper scratched.
Hollywood Import returned $7.20 as the second choice in the wagering.
“On paper, there just didn’t seem like there was a ton of speed,” Capuano continued. “He didn’t break really quick, but he broke good, and [Torrealba] got him up there. Once he got the lead, he was able to slow it down, and they weren’t going that fast up front, which always helps. He’s dead-fit, and he’s game.”
Bred in Kentucky by George Krikorian, Hollywood Import was purchased by Pocket 3’s Racing for $50,000 as a yearling. He is by Honor A.P., out of the unraced Curlin mare Baby Zito, a half-sister to Grade 2 turf winner Kitten’s Roar.
As for Close the Gate, trainer John Salzman Jr. was pleased with his gelding’s performance. The Pennsylvania-bred by Engage rallied for second despite trouble in his career debut, a $30,000 maiden claimer on December 19, and then dominated a $50,000 maiden seller by 9 ¾ lengths on January 16.
“He ran good,” Salzman said. “He just caught a horse with a little more seasoning than us. I don’t know how fit my horse was. I guess he got a little tired. There was no speed in the race, and [Hollywood Import] got away with a little easier lead than I would have liked. But, it all worked out.”
The Spectacular Bid shared top billing with the $100,000 Xtra Heat Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.
The Spectacular Bid and Xtra Heat were originally scheduled for Saturday, January 31, but frigid temperatures forced the cancellation of that day’s racing. The Saturday card was moved in its entirety to Wednesday afternoon without a redraw.
The Spectacular Bid was the first race in Maryland’s stakes series for sophomores, leading up to the 151st Preakness on May 16 at Laurel Park. The series also includes the $100,000 Miracle Wood, run at one mile on February 21; the $100,000 Private Terms at 1 1/16 miles on March 21; and the $150,000 Federico Tesio on April 15. Once again, the 1 1/8-mile Tesio will serve as a “Win and In” qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses seeking entry into the Preakness.
Capuano mentioned the Miracle Wood as a potential next start for Triple Crown nominee Hollywood Import.
The Spectacular Bid is named for the Maryland-based Hall of Famer whose 26 career wins included the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Preakness Stakes in 1979. An Eclipse Award winner in each of his three seasons on the track, Spectacular Bid went undefeated in nine starts as a 4-year-old, finishing his career with a walkover in the Grade 1 Woodward at Belmont.
*Victory Music game in Xtra Heat
In a carbon copy of the Spectacular Bid Stakes, Victory Music snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by re-rallying inside Bresha to grab the Xtra Heat.
Victory Music broke smoothly under jockey Angel Cruz and pressed outside For the Ladies. The splits were a solid 22.95 for the opening quarter and 46.98 at the half-mile call.
Just as Victory Music took the lead over For the Ladies, she was approached by Bresha, who had come from Turfway Park after winning her debut race in a pacesetting style for trainer Wayne Catalano.
Bresha held the advantage inside the eighth pole, but Victory Music always found a little more. Under the wire, it was Victory Music by a neck over Bresha, with Tap Into Grace another three-quarters of a length back in third. Then came Unfaithful Rose, Won Ton, Sweet Shenanigans, and For the Ladies.
Favored Victory Music returned $7.
“The last time, she stumbled at the start,” Cruz said. “They told me to break sharp but that I didn’t need to be on the lead, so I sat off a little. She was sharp, though. [Bresha] came to me, and [Victory Music] was game the whole stretch. As soon as I switched my stick to the left, she responded very well.”
Victory Music, a homebred daughter of Maclean’s Music owned by Three Diamonds Farm, was listed as a $55,000 RNA as a yearling. His second dam, Downthedustyroad, won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita in 2006.
Trained by Michael Maker, Victory Music won her career debut, a five-furlong restricted maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs on June 29. In her final start before the Xtra Heat, Oaklawn’s restricted Astral Spa Stakes on December 14, Victory Music overcame a poor break and a wide trip to finish a gallant third, five lengths behind the winner.
The Xtra Heat is the opening race of Maryland’s stakes series for 3-year-old fillies, leading up to the Black-Eyed Susan on May 15 at Laurel Park. The series also includes the $100,000 Wide Country, run at seven furlongs on February 21; the $100,000 Beyond the Wire at one mile on March 21; and the $150,000 Weber City Miss on April 15. The 1 1/16-mile Weber City Miss will serve as a “Win and In” qualifier for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
The Xtra Heat is named for the Hall of Famer who won 26 of 35 starts, including the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes and two editions of the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Stakes. An Eclipse Award winner as the Outstanding 3-Year-Old Filly in 2001, Xtra Heat also finished second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
*Around the track:
Jockey Yedsit Hazlewood won three races on Wednesday’s program. He teamed with trainer Hugh McMahon on Think Fast ($4.20) in the sixth race and Ecumenical ($5) in the finale. Hazlewood’s other winner was Zio Lino ($5.20) in the third race.
Live racing resumes Thursday with a nine-race card. The first post time is 12 pm ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout.
The FREE “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available every racing day. Get picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Friday’s guide is available Thursday afternoon. Click here to view it.
Register for Laurel Park’s “Last Chance, First Chance Handicapping Challenge” on Saturday, February 14. The $500 hybrid online and on-track contest ($250 entry fee, $250 bankroll) allows Win, Place, Show, Exacta, and/or Daily Double wagers on the entire card of live races at Laurel Park. Contestants must play at least five (5) contest races, with a $50 minimum bet per race. For full rules and entry information, visit here.
Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.
