Top Contenders for Cashcall Futurity at Hollywood Park

by Patricia Woo | Dec 13 2010

With $400,000 going to the winner of the race, the $750,000 Gr. 1 Cashcall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Saturday, Dec. 18, will feature up-and-coming 2-year-olds looking to win important graded stakes earnings for the run-up to the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

Already with $600,000 in graded stakes earnings from his $1M Gr. 3 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes score, Gourmet Dinner has a firm grip on a starting berth in the 2011 Kentucky Derby. He will be looking to capture his first grade 1 race in the Cashcall Futurity, an achievement that would vault him among the leaders for the Run for the Roses in May. Trained by Steve Standridge for Our Sugar Bear Stable, this son of Trippi broke his maiden at first asking at Calder Race Course in July and won the first two races in the Florida Stallion Stakes series – the Dr. Fager Stakes and the Affirmed Stakes – before getting caught late in the In Reality Stakes and having to settle for runner-up. Gourmet Dinner is well-versed on dirt and has been putting in time over the track at Calder Race Course; his Dec. 10 breeze of 4 furlongs was timed in a second-best 48.60. Whether he will adapt well to the Cushion Track surface at Hollywood Park will be a determining factor in whether he will add to his $809,660 earnings of 2010.

Premier Pegasus has just three races under his belt but has yet to lose. And with two of those victories coming at Hollywood Park, this son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus looks primed for yet another win there. He won his maiden-breaking race at Del Mar in July and went on to capture the Jack Goodman Stakes in October at the Oak Tree meet at Hollywood Park in October by 1 ¾ lengths. Most recently, Premier Pegasus won the $100,000 Gr. 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes – and $60,000 in graded stakes earnings – on Nov. 20 with a solid 1 ½ length edge and an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. Premier Pegasus has good early speed and the ability to re-rally; he is owned and trained by Myung Kwon Cho.

Comma to the Top is another juvenile with needed experience at Hollywood Park – both on the turf and on the Cushion Track. He has nine races on his resume already – and five of them are wins. Among those victories are a 6 ¼ length trouncing in the 1 1/16 mile Real Quiet Stakes on Nov. 6, a race he led from gate to wire, and the grass-run Gr. 3 Generous Stakes on Nov. 27. The 2-year-old gelded of Bwana Charlie, trained by Peter Miller for Gary Barber, has been in preparation at Hollywood Park, posting a 4 furlong workout in 48.20 on Dec. 6. Comma to the Top has $176,600 in earnings, and having run – and won – a 1 1/16-mile race already, the distance of the Cashcall Futurity should not pose a problem. Regular rider Corey Nakatani should get the call.

Multiple-graded stakes winner JP's Gusto is also among the expected, along with Hollywood Prevue Stakes runner-up Industry Leader and English import Crimson China. Rustler Hustler, Prayer for Relief, Awesome Patriot and Clubhouse Ride are also possible.

The Cashcall Futurity was won in 2009 by 2010 Preakness Stakes winner Lookin at Lucky. Who will win the 2010 edition? Bet on horse racing at Hollywood Park with the Bodog Racebook!