Chicago Style's win in Hollywood Turf Cup takes on added significance

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Proctor family has been winning races in conjunction with Glen Hill Farm for more than 45 years at Del Mar, but the win by Chicago Style in the Grade 2, $200,690 Hollywood Turf Cup on Friday had special significance, because it meant that trainer Tom Proctor now had more stakes wins at Del Mar than his late father, Willard.

The first of Willard’s 17 Del Mar stakes wins came with Glen Hill-owned Hail the Grey on Sept. 1, 1971 in a division of the Osunitas Stakes when Glen Hill was run by its founder, the late Leonard Lavin.

Tom Proctor had 15 Del Mar stakes wins prior to this summer’s meet, won the Yellow Ribbon with Cambodia in August and the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf with Summering in September, then got No. 18 with Glen Hill homebred Chicago Style on Friday.

“He was rootin’ for me,” Tom Proctor said of his father.

Chicago Style, last of seven for most of the 1 1/2-mile race, made the last run under Drayden Van Dyke and won by a neck over Bigger Picture, with Beach View another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

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Marckie’s Water was fourth and was followed, in order, by Ashleyluvssugar, Ya Gotta Wanna, and Can’thelpbelieving.

Krewe Chief was scratched.

Phil d’Amato, who trains Ya Gotta Wanna, lodged a claim of foul against Chicago Style for interference in the stretch, but the stewards did not concur.

Chicago Style ($5.80), the favorite, covered 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:28.53.

Van Dyke showed great patience in the race. There was a slow early pace, with Ashleyluvssugar leading through a half in 50.65 and six furlongs in 1:16.25. But the pace quickened noticeably after a mile in 1:41.79, and with a half-mile to go, Van Dyke waited for those who moved early to lose their punch, and he pounced.

“I was happy that happened,” Van Dyke said. “They were going along so slow. I’m glad they kicked on. If they go that slow the whole way they’d be tough to catch.”

The same patience that Van Dyke showed in the race has been displayed by Proctor in handling Chicago Style. Now age 5, the gelding didn’t even make it to the races until January of his 4-year-old year, and made his first two starts for a $16,000 tag after being scratched by the vet three times before he ever ran.

That speaks to the issues Proctor has had to deal with. And then earlier this year, Chicago Style needed a long break, from January until earlier this month. He’s made just 11 starts.

“Just had a little issue,” said Proctor, who said it was “good to win a race.”

What benefits Proctor is that Craig Bernick, Lavin’s grandson, operates Glen Hill now the same way as his grandfather. Time is always on the trainer’s side. That’s the Glen Hill style. That’s the Chicago Style.

Chicago Style, by Kitten’s Joy, has won six times, but this was his first stakes win. He earned $120,000 on Friday and now has career earnings of $296,328.