The Last Major Turf Race of 2008: $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup

by Patricia Woo | Dec 3 2008

Champs Elysees, Spring House and Obrigado are all expected to return for another crack at the $250,000 Gr. 1 Hollywood Turf Cup title on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Our race of the week is the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up which takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. It is the last major turf race of 2008, which means that this Grade 1 test at 1 1/2 miles is your last chance this year to bet on some of horse racing's best turf runners.

Headlining this event are the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers from last year: Champs Elysees, Spring House and Obrigado are all expected; 2007 Hollywood Turf Cup champion Sunriver is now retired.

Five-year-old Champs Elysees is trained by Bobby Frankel and is coming off an eighth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Though he is familiar with synthetic tracks, Champs Elysees seems to prefer turf courses - he was third in the $2M Canadian International in October and won the Sept. 7 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, both at Woodbine. Last year at the Hollywood Turf Cup, Champs Elysees was boxed in on the final turn, denying him the win; he will be hoping for a more favorable trip this year.

Spring House has been in the money in his last three starts at Hollywood Park; his most recent outing on this course was a third place finish in last year's Hollywood Turf Cup behind Champs Elysees. This 6-year-old gelding has enjoyed success at the 1 1/2 mile distance before, winning the Gr. 3 Carleton Burke Handicap in 2007 and the Gr. 2 San Luis Obispo Handicap this February at Santa Anita Park. Trainer Julio Canani is looking for Spring House to rebound from a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf in October.

On the comeback trail is Obrigado, who has been in training at Hollywood Park under trainer Neil Drysdale's supervision and has posted a recent workout time of 1:29.80 over seven furlongs. The 5-year-old gelding had a difficult 2007 campaign which included a disastrous trip to Dubai; this year, he has been in recovery from injury since a fifth-place outing in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Handicap in March. "He came back with a nice prep race here [on Nov. 12] after being out this summer with a cannon-bone injury," said John O'Donoghue, Drysdale's assistant.
Also possible for the Hollywood Turf Cup is Church Service, who was second in the Breeders' Cup Marathon this year. This will be his first test in Grade 1 company but he will have the expertise of leading jockey Rafael Bejarano, who gets the mount for trainer Mike Mitchell. Winchester, along with Artiste Royal, Rush Rush, Star Plus and Mr. Chairman are also expected.

Who do you like for the $250,000 Gr. 1 Hollywood Turf Cup? Bet on horse racing at the Bodog Racebook!