Hollywood Hideaway elevated to first in Victoria

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—First-time starter Hollywood Hideaway won Saturday’s $132,000 Victoria Stakes at Woodbine after the disqualification of Beliveau, who prevailed by a head in the six-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds.

Hollywood Hideaway went right to the lead and set moderate fractions under Luis Contreras, with Beliveau in close proximity under Eurico Da Silva. Beliveau joined Hollywood Hideaway up front in the stretch, and they battled to the wire while Hollywood Hideaway was in tight along the rail in the final furlong.

After a long inquiry, Beliveau was demoted to second for interference, and Hollywood Hideaway returned $11.60 to win. Dragon Bay finished third, and the favored Conquest City Girl was fifth in the eight-horse field. Iluvbeefstew pulled up lame in the stretch after getting bumped, and was euthanized.

“My horse was fighting really hard to the end, but the other horse started laying in on my horse,” Contreras said. “At the end, just three or four jumps before the wire, he got my horse really bad. My horse was fighting back, and I know if nothing happened I would have won the race.”

Hollywood Hideaway earned $75,000 for owner Bruce Lunsford and trainer Barb Minshall.

The final time for the Victoria, contested over firm ground, was 1:09.65.