Boulder Creek begins new focus on turf

By Steve Andersen

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Losses in main-track stakes at Santa Anita and Hawthorne earlier this year have led to a career change for Boulder Creek, a 3-year-old colt who starts in Friday's seventh race at Hollywood Park.

For now, the emphasis will be on turf, with the hope that a big performance in Friday's race, a first-level optional $80,000 claimer for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles, will lead to a start in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on turf on Del Mar's opening day, July 21.

The distance of Friday's race, combined with the way that Boulder Creek finished in the stretch when fourth against a similar field on May 19, has left trainer Craig Dollase confident.

"The mile and an eighth won't hurt," he said. "We expect a good effort."

Owned by the West Point Thoroughbred partnership, Boulder Creek has 1 victory in 7 starts, a maiden race over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Feb. 5. He followed that with a fifth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita and a sixth in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne, losses that ended hopes for a Triple Crown start.

In the May 19 race, Boulder Creek was at the back of a six-horse field chasing a slow pace and finished 3 3/4 lengths behind the well-regarded Bogie.

"I thought he ran credibly coming off his Illinois Derby effort," Dollase said. "It was kind of a paceless race and he made a late run."

Friday's race has drawn 10 3-year-olds, with the Oceanside a goal for several starters. The field includes Fantastic Pick, who was third in the May 19 race; Very Fair, a winner of 4 of 13 starts who won an optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields on May 14; and Hockley, who was second in an optional claimer for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf here on April 23.

Very Fair and Coloursoftheglen, fifth behind Hockley on April 23, are the only horses in the field entered for an $80,000 claiming price.

Hockley, has 1 win in 8 starts, a maiden race on turf at Santa Anita on March 14. The loss on April 23 left trainer Eoin Harty disappointed.

"I was surprised he got beat," he said. "He needs to step up a bit. I think there is improvement in him and I think he'll be a good horse down the road."