Hollendorfer high on first-time starter I Will Score
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Two appealing maiden races for 2-year-olds highlight the Friday card at Los Alamitos on the second day of the 10-day fall Thoroughbred meet.
Race 4 features the career debut of I Will Score, a fast-working colt trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Race 6 is for California-bred fillies, and second-time starters Tangled Up in Ju and Octofy will attract most of the wagering. Both races are 5 1/2 furlongs.
Hollendorfer is bullish on I Will Score, a Roman Ruler colt based all summer at Los Alamitos.
“We’re hoping he has a little bit of a home-court advantage,” Hollendorfer said. “He’s been training real well. I think he’ll show speed away from the gate.”
I Will Score posted a six-furlong workout Sept. 4 in 1:11.80, the fastest work by one second.
“He was quite handy,” Hollendorfer said.
The main rivals for I Will Score also are first-time starters. Doug O’Neill trains Money Makin Mike, and Bob Baffert trains Mighty Moses and Undeniable U.
The race 6 principals already have started. Tangled Up in Ju finished a troubled third in her Aug. 15 debut for trainer Mike Machowsky. Octofy finished third as the favorite in her July 3 debut for O’Neill, with an alibi. She came out of the race with sore shins.
Race 4
KEY CONTENDERs
I Will Score (Career debut)
◗ Mike Smith will ride I Will Score; it will be the first time Smith has been aboard the colt.
◗ I Will Score is a sibling to Willing to Travel, a son of Pleasantly Perfect who won a maiden turf route for Hollendorfer last November at Del Mar.
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Money Makin Mike (Career debut)
◗ Money Makin Mike, by Eskendereya, “acts like a distance horse,” according to O’Neill. “We like him, but the rail is worrisome. He might like two turns.”
Mighty Moses (Career debut)
◗ Trained by Baffert and owned by Zayat Stables, Mighty Moses is a Candy Ride colt with fast works. Martin Garcia rides.
Undeniable U (Career debut)
◗ Trained by Baffert and owned by breeder Mojallali Stables, Undeniable U is a Red Giant colt who is a sibling to stakes winner Unstoppable U and allowance winner Unforgettable U. Edwin Maldonado is named to ride.
Race 6
KEY CONTENDERS
Tangled Up in Ju (Last Beyer: 54)
◗ The third-place debut by Tangled Up in Ju was super. “She got smashed out of the gate,” Machowsky said. “After that, James [Graham] rode her smart.” The filly lagged, made a middle move, split horses, and finished evenly.
“She’s not speed-crazy, but she has more speed than she showed first out,” Machowsky said.
◗ The race Tangled Up in Ju exits produced two next-out winners.
◗ Tangled Up in Ju, by Lucky Pulpit, is a sibling to Bad Ju Ju, who won a maiden race by more than nine lengths in her second start.
Octofy (Last Beyer: 24)
◗ The fourth-place debut by Octofy was not indicative of her ability. She came out of the race with sore shins.
“We backed off and got her right,” O’Neill said. “She might be a work or two short, but we’re looking for a big effort.” Mario Gutierrez rides Octofy.