11/28-29 (DMR): HOL Derby (G1), Diver, Durante (G3's); Matriarch (G1), DeMille (G3)

[RolloTomasi]

March is an interesting addition to the Hollywood Derby. From the chart, it looks he didn't get a clear run in his turf debut last month which I presume is why they are stepping him up into a graded stakes and shipping him west to try it again.

That aside, I hope he sticks around for the Malibu on the main track going 7f opening day at Santa Anita next month. Not sure what happened this summer at Saratoga, but he certainly has the credentials to show up there. Plus with Runhappy and Mr. Z and maybe even Watershed potential starters, we might get a rerunning of the King's Bishop--the perfect acid test for Laura Wohlers to establish herself as the true force behind the sprint star.

[RHT2004]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

March is an interesting addition to the Hollywood Derby. From the chart, it looks he didn't get a clear run in his turf debut last month which I presume is why they are stepping him up into a graded stakes and shipping him west to try it again.

That aside, I hope he sticks around for the Malibu on the main track going 7f opening day at Santa Anita next month. Not sure what happened this summer at Saratoga, but he certainly has the credentials to show up there. Plus with Runhappy and Mr. Z and maybe even Watershed potential starters, we might get a rerunning of the King's Bishop--the perfect acid test for Laura Wohlers to establish herself as the true force behind the sprint star.

March kinda fell apart on dirt. He was pretty good during the spring.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RHT2004

March kinda fell apart on dirt. He was pretty good during the spring.

The Malibu has served as a good comeback race in the past. However March has a ways to go to be considered top class in retrospect. He just held off Lord Nelson in the Bay Shore and that one was nearly eased at the 1/2 mile pole after taking up and losing his action, only to rally very wide around the far turn. In the Woody Stephens, Competitive Edge laid an egg and March edged out a floundering Cinco Charlie who got clear in midstretch (the race caller laid an egg in that one, too, by the way). He was under pressure throughout the fast paced Amsterdam instead of being allowed to settle, so he can get a pass there, but in the King's Bishop he dropped back early and rallied along the inside, but clearly was not in Runhappy's league that day.

Still, he's the type of horse that could capitalize with a pace meltdown and the public has let him go at generous odds in the past.

[Kasept]

SUN 6th (3:00) Cecil B. DeMille S. (G3)

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 2 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Manhattan Dan Lezcano J 116 L
2 Collected Garcia M 116 L
3 Tusk Velazquez J R 116 L
4 Canada Stevens G L 116 L
5 Frank Conversation Gutierrez Mario 116 L
6 Ninety One Assault Desormeaux K J 116 L
7 Hot Ore Baze T C 116 L
8 Arizona Moon Van Dyke D 116 L
9 Rare Candy Talamo J 116 L
10 Dressed in Hermes Smith M E 122 L
11 Imperious One (IRE) Bejarano R 116
12 Storming Candy Maldonado E 116 L
13 Archaeo Nakatani C S 116 L



SUN 8th (4:00) Matriarch S. (G1)

1 Mile (Turf) | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 Hard Not to Like Velazquez J R 123 L
2 Chati's On Top Nakatani C S 123 L
3 Recepta Trujillo E 123 L
4 Prize Exhibit (GB) Gonzalez S 120 L
5 Curlin's Fox Espinoza V 120 L
6 Crowley's Law (GB) Bejarano R 123 L
7 Gender Agenda (GB) Baze T C 123 L
8 Stellar Path (FR) de Sousa S 123 L
9 Filimbi Lezcano J 123 L
10 Stormy Lucy Desormeaux K J 123 L
11 Olorda (GER) Rosario J 120 Blk-On L
12 Queen of The Sand (IRE) Blanc B 123 L
13 Baruta (BRZ) Van Dyke D 123 L
14 She's Not Here Smith M E 123 L
AE Alexis Tangier Stevens G L 123 L