Haimish Hy wins Hollywood Derby with wide rally under Gomez

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The wider that Haimish Hy runs through the stretch, the better he seems to perform.

He won the first stakes of his career in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar with an outside rally through the stretch, and then topped that performance in Sunday’s $250,000 Hollywood Derby, rallying five-wide to catch 7-5 favorite Sebastian Flyte in the final strides.

Jockey Garrett Gomez’s ride on Hamish Hy through the final three furlongs earned the admiration of Alan Sherman, an assistant trainer to his father, Art.

“He had a perfect ride and it worked out just right,” Sherman said. “When he gets to the outside, he seems to accelerate better.”

Haimish Hy ($25.80) ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:01.20, finishing a neck in front of Sebastian Flyte, who was a head in front of 10-1 shot Juniper Pass. The Grade 1 Hollywood Derby was Haimish Hy’s first start at the highest level and his fifth win in 10 starts. He has earned $287,980.

Gomez had Haimish Hy last in the field of eight for the first six furlongs, and was still seventh on the turn. Haimish Hy was positioned along the rail turning for home, when Gomez began to angle to the outside.

“My specific instructions were to take him to the outside,” Gomez said. “When I switched him outside, he got a big heart.”

Trailing then-leader Blue Panis by four lengths with a furlong remaining, Haimish Hy did not take the lead until the final few strides.

Sebastian Flyte was unlucky to lose. He raced on the inside for the first mile, waited briefly behind Blue Panis turning for home, and then was bumped by Juniper Pass and Citrus Kid in the stretch.

“I had a lot of room and then they came together,” Rosario said.

Sebastian Flyte led in the final furlong, but could not keep the lead. Citrus Kid finished fourth, three-quarters of a length behind Haimish Hy, and was followed by Fantastic Pick, Jairzihno, Blue Panis, and Lions Story.

Art Sherman, who owns 25 percent of Haimish Hy with Zvika Akin, Richard Franco, and Sy Goldstein, missed the race while traveling to Europe for a cruise, his son said. The Hollywood Derby was Haimish Hy’s first stakes win on turf and his fourth start on the surface. He was fifth in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby on turf here on Oct. 16, a performance hindered by a slow pace, Alan Sherman said.