Hollywood Park: Majestic City remains perfect by taking Hollywood Juvenile Championship

INGLEWOOD, Calif.- Majestic City is unbeaten in three starts and is proving to be much more than a 2-year-old speedball.

Extending his winning streak to three races, Majestic City stalked pacesetter Night Tide for the first half-mile and closed well through the stretch to win the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship at Hollywood Park on Sunday.

Majestic City ($3.80) ran six furlongs in 1:10.45 under jockey David Flores, who accented the win with a fist pump as the colt reached the finish.

The win was not without a brief scare before the race. Majestic City became upset briefly in the paddock, and fell to his side, trainer Peter Miller said. During the warm-up, Majestic City was observed by track veterinarian Dana Stead before the colt was allowed to start.

There was no mishap during the running of the Grade 3 race. Flores had Majestic City a length behind Night Tide, who set early fractions of 22.44 and 45.54 seconds. With a furlong remaining, Majestic City was third, trailing Night Tide and Brigand but closed well on the outside to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Brigand. Night Tide finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Brigand in the field of six.

The style of Majestic City’s victory was different than his previous wins when he raced on the lead.

“It all worked out well in the end,” Miller said. “We worked him behind horses in case this situation arose. He got some schooling. He had to ask him to run in the last eighth of a mile.”

Owned by Jeff Bloom, Majestic City beat maidens over 4 1/2 furlongs on May 21 and won the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs on June. A colt by City Zip, Majestic City has earned $135,570.

Miller said that Majestic City will be pointed for the two stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar – the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 7 and the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity over seven furlongs on Sept. 5.