Excessive Passion returns with a bang

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Excessive Passion returned from a layoff of nearly four months to pull a 17-1 upset in Wednesday's $75,000 Harry Henson Stakes on the opening day of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting.

Sent off as the sixth choice, Excessive Passion closed from eighth in a field of 10 to win by a half-length over 20-1 pacesetter Locksley Hall. Smiling Tiger finished third, with Face and an Ace fifth, losing by 2 1/4 lengths.

Excessive Passion ($36) was ridden by Martin Garcia. The colt rallied four wide on the turn and took the lead in the final furlong, finishing six furlongs on turf in 1:08.93.

"He broke beautifully and I took a long hold," Garcia said. "When I angled him to the outside, he really finished."

Owned by Alen Klein, Rusty Brown and Phil Lebherz and trained by Jeff Bonde, Excessive Passion has won 3 of 4 starts and $97,840. He won the Everett Nevin Alameda County Stakes at Pleasanton last July in his stakes debut.