Hollendorfer pair in Zuma Beach better than last race indicates
ARCADIA, Calif. – Dan Ward, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s assistant trainer at Santa Anita, walked around Clocker’s Corner on Thursday morning, seeking jockey agents to fill assignments aboard the stable’s two runners in Sunday’s $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
“I’ve got one that pulled up and one whose saddle slipped,” Ward told the agents. “Which one do you want?”
Those might not sound like mounts in demand, but jockeys Mario Gutierrez and Elvis Trujillo have winning chances on Heart of Paradise and Achiever’s Legacy, both of whom failed to finish the Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Sept. 1.
Achiever’s Legacy was pulled up by jockey Kent Desormeaux when her saddle slipped. Heart of Paradise was taken out of the race in early stretch after jockey Joe Talamo feared that she injured a hind leg. Heart of Paradise clipped heels with a rival on the turn, Ward said, leading to Talamo’s quick decision.
“He thought she got hurt behind,” Ward said. “He did the right thing. You can’t be upset when that happens.”
Heart of Paradise and Achiever’s Legacy are part of an oversubscribed field of 13 in the one-mile turf race, which will be limited to 12 runners. The race is led by Her Emmynency, who was second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Polytrack on Aug. 30, and She’s Complete, who won the Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf. Talamo is riding Her Emmynency on Sunday. Desormeaux is sidelined after being kicked in a post parade Sept. 28.
A big result by one of Hollendorfer’s fillies in the Surfer Girl could result in a start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Oct. 31. The two fillies have solid credentials. Heart of Paradise was second in the Cinderella Stakes at Los Alamitos in July and third in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar in August. She was a 4-1 chance in the Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf when she was pulled up.
Achiever’s Legacy won her debut on turf at Gulfstream Park in June. The Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf was her California debut. She was the 2-1 second choice when her saddle slipped, ending all chance for a stakes win that day.