Haggin a no-go with three
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Due to a lack of entries, the $75,000 Haggin Stakes for 2-year-olds on Sunday at Hollywood Park was canceled. Only three entered the 5 1/2-furlong stakes.
"If horsemen aren't going to support it, why run it?" racing secretary Martin Panza said. "It was offered, and we got three winners. We're not going to use an overnight [stakes] with three winners."
The cancellation leaves impressive maiden winners Corazondelcampeon and Case Study, and stakes winner Wild Uncle Kurt with nowhere to run.
The Haggin was the midpoint in Hollywood's three-stakes program for 2-year-olds that included the Willard Proctor that was run May 22, and the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 16.
But when Haggin entries came up short, an exasperated Panza called it off and blasted the lack of support. "People complain there are no opportunities in California, but we've run more [2-year-old] maiden races than anywhere in the country."
Through Friday, Hollywood had run 28 maiden races for 2-year-olds - 12 for colts, and 16 for fillies.
The Haggin would have been the logical spot for maiden winners, but only eight nominated. Panza will consider writing back the stakes as an overnight, and challenged the news value of the cancellation.
"It was an overnight stakes, it got canceled, and I keep getting phone calls. [Reporters] must have nothing else to write about."
Instead of promising 2-year-olds in their first stakes, fans Sunday will focus on a six-horse field of California-bred fillies and mares in the race-8 feature. The 6 1/2-furlong first-level allowance is led by sharp maiden winner Salah Love.
In race 3, older fillies and mares run 1 1/16 miles in a one-other-than allowance for open company. Front-runner are the leading contenders in the six-horse field.
Race-8 favorite , who returns to dirt, starter-allowance winner Celtic Way, Golden Gate shipper Royal Kleven, and pace-presser Valid's Valid.
In race 3, Ran for the Dough will try to race wire to wire over five other fillies and mares. Trained by Paddy Gallagher, Ran for the Dough will have to put away sprinter Reasonably Brite to her inside, then hold off closers I Can Yodele, Mech Runner, and Brilliant Move.