Hollywood Park: Dreamcatcher gets more ground - and possibly turf

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Through eight races, the 3-year-old colt Dreamcatcher has looked like a colt who would thrive in distance races and on turf. He will get at least one, and possibly both, of those conditions in Friday’s fifth race at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Dreamcatcher is entered in an optional claimer over 1 1/4 miles on turf. As of Wednesday, it was uncertain whether wet weather in the forecast for Thursday and Friday could force the race to the main track.

“We think he wants to run that far,” trainer John Sadler said. “He ran his best race last time.”

Asked if he would start Dreamcatcher if the race is forced off turf, Sadler said, “Probably.”

Sadler was encouraged by Dreamcatcher’s last race, an allowance over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. Last of 12 on the backstretch, Dreamcatcher closed well with a wide rally to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind Big Bane Theory. Last Sunday, Big Bane Theory finished ninth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

Bred and co-owned by Halo Farms, Dreamcatcher has one win, a maiden turf race over 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 21 in his fourth start.

Friday’s fifth race has drawn a field of nine, including one runner with stakes experience in Groovin’ Solo. Trained by owner-breeder Myung Kwon Cho, Groovin’ Solo has run in four graded stakes. He was third in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds last February, but was disqualified and placed seventh for causing interference in the stretch.

Groovin’ Solo was entered for the Hollywood Derby, but was scratched from the also-eligible list.

Money Talker, who drew the outside post, is the only runner who won his last start. Trained by Paddy Gallagher for Frank Stronach, Money Talker won a maiden race over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, in his seventh career start.

Gallagher also starts Swift Eagle, who won a maiden race and an optional claimer in consecutive starts during the summer, but was a troubled ninth behind Big Bane Theory on Nov. 2 in his only subsequent start.

Te Rapa, second in an optional claimer over 1 1/4 miles on turf in October and fifth behind Big Bane Theory, could be a victim of the weather.

“If it doesn’t come off, we’ll run,” trainer Howard Zucker said.