Hollywood Park: Door's Open makes turf debut in Friday allowance sprint

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Door’s Open surprised trainer Vladimir Cerin when he won his first two starts – a $50,000 claiming race for maidens at Santa Anita on March 14 and a starter allowance there April 20.

“He never appeared he’d do it until we asked him, and then he did it,” Cerin said.

Door’s Open’s third start comes in a $54,000 allowance race over six furlongs on turf at Betfair Hollywood Park on Friday. Owned by co-breeder Tom Capehart, Door’s Open will make his first start on turf.

“He deserves a bit of a test,” Cerin said.

Door’s Open will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, who is likely to have the 3-year-old gelding near the front. In his first two starts, Door’s Open led or disputed the pace. He was ridden by Gutierrez in both races.

The win in the starter allowance over 5 1/2 furlongs left Cerin delighted when the gelding pulled away to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

“The race was loaded with speed,” Cerin said. “When he was headed, he responded.”

Door’s Open is bred for turf. His sire, Aragorn, was a five-time stakes winner and was second in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The allowance race drew a field of 11, but will have a safety limit of 10 starters.

The race has several quick runners, including Boozer, who beat maidens on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on March 3, and Run’n on Residuals, unraced since winning claiming races worth $12,500 and $16,000 last fall.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer starts U’narack, who won a maiden race for California-breds over six furlongs on turf here May 10. U’narack stalked the pace that day and rallied to win by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Julien Leparoux, who has the mount Friday.

Cerin could have a big day Friday. In the seventh race, Cerin starts Lookin for Jonesy in an optional claimer over six furlongs on the synthetic main track.

A 4-year-old filly, Lookin for Jonesy was seventh of 10 in the B. Thoughtful Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares on April 27 in her first start for Cerin. Previously trained by Hollendorfer, Lookin for Jonesy won synthetic-track races at Del Mar and Golden Gate Fields in 2011 and 2012.

Lookin for Jonesy is entered for a $40,000 claiming price.