He Will helps get Hollendorfer off to fast start
DEL MAR, Calif. – Two days into the Del Mar autumn meeting, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s stable had amassed three wins, including Thursday’s $102,580 Lure Stakes with He Will.
The results were quite a turnaround from the track’s summer meeting, when Hollendorfer won five races from 80 starters – and had 17 seconds.
“We didn’t do anything good at the other Del Mar meet,” Hollendorfer said on Thursday. “We had 17 seconds. We were putting them in the right spots.”
The race selection was even sharper in the first two days of the current meeting. He Will ended an eight-race losing streak in the restricted Lure Stakes at a mile on turf. Hollendorfer said he’s planning to start He Will in the Grade 2, $200,000 Seabiscuit Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Nov. 26, closing day.
He Will, ridden by Mike Smith, closed from eighth in the final furlong to win the Lure by a length over Tequila Joe.
“It looked like once he moved on him he would win,” Hollendorer said.
The 5-2 favorite, He Will had been winless in 51 weeks and seven straight stakes, including a second by a head in the California Dreamin’ Stakes for statebreds here in July.
Owned by Mark Schlaich, Andrew Hillas, George Todaro, Mark Randall, and Hollendorfer, He Will has won 6 of 19 starts and earned $322,619.