Hollywood Don sparks Miller's big day in Del Mar Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. – As goes trainer Peter Miller this summer at Del Mar, so goes Hollywood Don.

Hollywood Don lost his debut owing to a slow start and wide trip early in the meet, but he has subsequently won twice, the most significant win coming on Saturday, when he captured the $101,500 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes to stamp himself as the West Coast’s leading prospect for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.

Miller has a large barn, so he’s bound to get winners, but for most of the meet it was not at the frequency he desires. No more. Hollywood Don was one of three wins Miller had on Saturday’s card to bring him to within two wins of leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer going into the final two days of the meet.

“It only took seven weeks to get rolling here,” Miller said. “It’s nice to win a good race, win a big race, on the last weekend.”

Hollywood Don ($10.60) was mid-pack in the early going, made a sustained run around the turn and into the lane, battled with Hot Ore to deep stretch, and then finally got the best of that rival, winning by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:35.46 for one mile on firm turf.

I’malreadythere, the lukewarm 4-1 favorite, was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third and was followed, in order, by Rare Candy, Getoffmyback, Go Long, Recalibrating, Tiz a Billy, Mr Notorious, Swiss Minister, and Dubdubwatson.

Brice Blanc rode Hollywood Don, a son of Tapit who was purchased for $245,000 at Ocala in April by the Rockingham Ranch of Gary Hartunian.

“The horse ran super and Brice gave him a great ride,” Miller said. “He’s got a big, long stride. He’s a big, beautiful Tapit colt that covers a lot of ground. We just didn’t want him to get covered up. We wanted to keep him in the clear as much as we could.”

Hollywood Don has made all three of his starts on turf. Miller said the goal this fall is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

“That makes a lot of sense,” he said. “He’s got a lot of quality.”