11/27/2012 4:15PM

Hollywood Park: Grandeur staying for Hollywood Turf Cup

By Steve Andersen
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Emily Shields
Grandeur will stay in California for the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 15.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Grandeur, second as the favorite in Sunday’s $250,000 Hollywood Derby, will remain in California for the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 15.

Trained by Jeremy Noseda of England, Grandeur will be based with trainer Paddy Gallagher in coming weeks. The Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup is run over 1 1/2 miles and would be Grandeur’s first start at that distance.

“That’s the race we’ll point for,” Gallagher said. “He ran well the other day. They’ve left him with me, and we’ll see how he is.”

The gray colt won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 in his American debut and was second by 1 1/2 lengths to Unbridled Command in the Hollywood Derby over 1 1/4 miles as the 7-2 favorite.

Owned by Yvonne Jacques of England, Grandeur closed from last in a field of 14 with a wide rally.

The Hollywood Turf Cup could lead to further starts in the turf marathon division at Santa Anita this winter, depending on how Grandeur fares in the race, Gallagher said. In England, Grandeur won two minor handicaps over 1 1/4 miles and was third in a Grade 3 race – the Winter Hill Stakes – at Windsor in August.

The Turf Cup also is a goal for the multiple stakes winner Bourbon Bay and Kindergarden Kid, who was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 and won the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland in October.

gary oetman More than 1 year ago
Gomez thinks and rides too many horses like Eddie D.....when the race falls apart, he looks great. With quality horses, you can't be in the next zip code and expect to win too many races. He had way too much horse left Sunday. Another poor ride in my book.
Joel Winicki More than 1 year ago
In a 14 horse field, Gomez did the right thing. He saved ground early, kept his horse in the clear, and gave him a "chance" to win. That's what you do in a 14 horse field with a closer. Take a look at all the horses who were never even given a chance to run down the lane. It's not Gomez' fault there were a handful of horses that didn't belong in the race. If he kept Grandeur in the pack with the rest of 'em..........he'd have finished mid-pack, with more than a "a ton of horse left". That's racing. If you had put some place money on him, you probably wouldn't be so bitter about the ride. The horse with positional speed got the jump......get over it!
Robert Funaro More than 1 year ago
One can only be hopeful Joel that all goes well with a race run at any distance. I must face one fact-(FORGET PLACE not a good bet in my opinion at 7/2)" The SWARTZ was not with me"!
Robert Funaro More than 1 year ago
As long as Gomez does not ride I'll be on him. Not many horses could overcome what he did last Sunday and finish 1 1/2 behind. Just a poor ride. In a 14 horse field you dont come 11 wide and win in the final turn. Gomez lost the race. Gradeur had a ton of horse left!
John More than 1 year ago
Lots of trouble in that last race, if you go back and watch the replays there are 3-4 horse who are live next out ! Also, the prior maiden race had some interesting horses, I think I found an excellent future book in there, go watch the replay, you will pick it up !
Steve Pollack More than 1 year ago
good stretch kick may not so at this distance
Mike Caiazzo More than 1 year ago
good point .. coming wide and from the back ... wow
Jordan More than 1 year ago
That would be my concern as well. How explosive will that kick be for the last quarter of a mile after having already run 10 furlongs, and having to run into a much slower pace? No question that Grandeur is explosive, and I love that they're keeping him in Cali, but they might have to use a little more early speed in the Turf Cup and not let the deficit get too steep. Fom the Hollywod Derby, the other 2 Euros Speaking of Which and Rjawa, with their steady grinding style, would appear to be a good fit for 12 furlong races in North America. I would make Kidergarten Kid the slight fave this early, coming off a number of good recent efforts. He just happened to be slightly overmatched in the BC Turf, but still didn't embarrass himself in the race.