Native Diver Handicap Top Contenders

by Patricia Woo | Nov 29 2010

On Saturday, Dec. 4, Hollywood Park will feature 3-year-olds and up in the 32nd running of the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap. The Gr. 3 race at 1 1/8 miles is expected to include Dakota Phone, Soul Candy and Aggie Engineer.

Dakota Phone had a breakthrough race in the $1M Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 6, overcoming 37-1 odds and a thrilling stretch duel to win. Now, the 5-year-old gelding trained by Jerry Hollendorfer will have a chance to close out his 2010 campaign with another win in the Native Diver Handicap. A son of Zavata, Dakota Phone has shown improvement this year, winning the first graded stakes race of his career on July 31 in the Gr. 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. He followed up that performance with a pair of third-place finishes: the Gr. 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 28 and the Gr. 1 Goodwood Stakes at Hollywood Park on Oct. 2. This year alone, the Kentucky-bred has won $967,720 – the bulk of his career earnings of $1,273,810 for owners Carver – Halo Farms. Whether Dakota Phone has the stamina to bounce back quickly from his giant effort in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile will determine his success on Saturday; Joel Rosario will be in the irons.

Already a winner on the track at Hollywood Park is Soul Candy, who won the $150,000 California Cup Classic there on Oct. 30. Trained by Paddy Gallagher, this 4-year-old son of Birdonawire will be looking to add to his career earnings of $205,300 for owners E Z Eight Racing Stable and Madera Thoroughbreds – as well as score his first graded stakes win. His first attempt – the Gr. 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 29 – ended in a disappointing fifth place finish. In training at Hollywood Park, Soul Candy posted a 6 furlong workout in 1:13.80 on Nov. 28; Rafael Bejarano, who won this race in 2008 (aboard Slew's Tizzy) and 2009 (aboard Mast Track) will get the mount.

Gallagher has another likely starter in Aggie Engineer, a recent allowance optional claimer winner at Hollywood Park. This 5-year-old gelded son of E Dubai has yet to win against a higher class of competition – he has lost his previous six races, including the Gr. 2 San Marcos Stakes on Jan. 24 in which he finished sixth. But he has looked solid in training, working 7 furlongs in a bullet 1:27.60 on Nov. 28 at Hollywood Park. Regular rider Joe Talamo will get the call for Saturday's race.

Others expected include Spurrier, Philatelist and Achak.

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