Hollywood Harbor cruises in WTBA Lads

AUBURN, Wash. - Hollywood Harbor continued his domination of Emerald Downs' 2-year-old male division Saturday with a 2 1/2-length victory in the $50,000 WTBA Lads Stakes.

In winning his third consecutive stakes races, Hollywood Harbor ran one mile in 1:36.40 on a fast track and paid $3. Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo rode the winner for trainer Chris Stenslie and owners Jody Peetz of Issaquah, Wash., and John Holmes of Shoreline, Wash.

Hollywood Harbor, a Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold, assumed control early and set fractions of 22.80 seconds, 45.80, and 1:10.20. His winning time was 0.20 of a second off the stakes record of 1:36.20 set by Harvard Avenue in 2003.

Koala Beach chased Hollywood Harbor in second place from start to finish. Untilifindyou was 10 lengths farther back in third.

Hollywood Harbor earned $24,750, increasing his career mark to $70,101 in four starts. He is the first horse to sweep the Strong Ruler, Premio Esmeralda, and WTBA Lads stakes. Next up is the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 26.