Brown putting three each in Hollywood Derby and Matriarch
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Chad Brown, who leads the nation’s trainers in purse earnings heading into the final month of the year, will aim at the closing-weekend Grade 1 races at Del Mar next week, sending out three 3-year-olds for the Hollywood Derby on Saturday and three older females for the Matriarch on Sunday.
Both the Hollywood Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, and the Matriarch, at one mile, are $300,000 races; they are two of the final three Grade 1 races on turf this year. The only other Grade 1 grass race is the American Oaks on Dec. 31 at Santa Anita.
Brown said he will have Annals of Time, Beach Patrol, and Camelot Kitten in the Hollywood Derby, a race that also will include the East Coast-based Isotherm for George Weaver and Revved Up for Shug McGaughey.
Mexican Gold, Roca Rojo, and Zindaya will represent Brown in the Matriarch, a race topped by Miss Temple City for Graham Motion and Time and Motion for Jimmy Toner.
Royal Mo tries two turns
Royal Mo, a promising second in two sprints to begin his career, is set for his two-turn debut in race 4 on Sunday, a one-mile maiden race for 2-year-olds.
John Shirreffs trains Royal Mo, a colt by Uncle Mo who was second in his debut during the summer meet here going six furlongs. He followed up with a runner-up effort behind the well-regarded Beach Bum at Santa Anita going seven furlongs on Nov. 6.
“His first race, he just got caught,” Shirreffs said Friday. “His second race, he was distracted as the bell rang and missed the break.”
Despite the tardy start, Royal Mo rallied from last in the 12-horse field to finish second. With a better start Sunday, Shirreffs expects Royal Mo to be forwardly placed.