Hollywood Park handicapping roundup: Week of Nov. 16

Shared Belief shows he’s the goods in Prevue

About once every 10 years, the Hollywood Prevue showcases a star. A seven-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds, the Prevue was won in 1994 by Afternoon Deelites and in 2003 by Lion Heart. Both won the Prevue by open lengths and a month later crushed the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity.

The Prevue was due for another good one. On Nov. 10, second-time starter Shared Belief burst into the picture. The Candy Ride gelding demolished his rivals by 7 3/4 lengths to stamp himself as the early favorite for the CashCall Futurity on Dec. 14.

In his first start since a private purchase and transfer to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Shared Belief pressed the Prevue pace two wide, unleashed a turn of foot at the head of the lane, and shot clear under Corey Nakatani. Beyond the positive visual impression, he earned a 99 Beyer, the second-highest figure this year by a North American 2-year-old.

Shared Belief faces many challenges ahead, including staying sound and staying two turns. But as of early November, Shared Belief ranks at the head of the class out West.

CashCall Futurity forecast

The $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes on Nov. 23 could produce more starters for the CashCall Futurity. But the current list of potential Futurity runners is short – Prevue one-two finishers Shared Belief and Kobe’s Back, along with three candidates from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Bond Holder (fourth), Tap It Rich (fifth), and Diamond Bachelor (ninth).

Trainer Doug O’Neill will take a wait-and-see approach with Bond Holder.

“He’s got to be 100 percent or we won’t go,” O’Neill said. “The big goal with him is the first Saturday in May ... We just want to make sure we don’t squeeze him.”

Bond Holder, a Grade 1 winner in the fall, is owned by CashCall sponsor J. Paul Reddam.

Bob Baffert trains the lightly raced Tap It Rich, whose 46.60 four-furlong work Wednesday at Santa Anita was his first since a creditable fifth in the BC Juvenile. Tap It Rich, who has started only twice, will be nominated to the Real Quiet. It is uncertain if he will start.

“He needs to relax,” Baffert said. “He was getting a little rank on me.”

Heart of a champion?

Dr. David Lambert is a noted equine heart specialist who has scanned the hearts of thousands of Thoroughbreds. His tests identify characteristics that determine distance and stamina suitability based on a horse’s cardiovascular profile. Lambert was doing some work for Baffert.

“He is always asking, ‘Can I [scan] these other horses?’ ” Baffert said.

The trainer said yes and gave Lambert a list of Derby prospects in his stable. Lambert went to work, and after scanning the horses, reported back to Baffert.

“Do I have a Derby horse?” Baffert asked. “He said yes – a horse called New Year’s Day.”

New Year’s Day won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his third start, and Baffert is looking forward to the Derby trail. A son of Street Cry, New Year’s Day will not race until the Derby preps begin in 2014.

Sharp Cat loses edge

The Sharp Cat Stakes was brand new in 2005. The route for 2-year-old fillies got off to a good start, won the first year by Balance. She later won multiple Grade 1 races and paved the way for her younger sibling, a Street Cry filly named Zenyatta.

But the Sharp Cat was unable to establish national significance. The ensuing winners did nothing of note beyond a Grade 3 sprint win by May Day Rose. When the 1 1/16-mile race is run Saturday, it will be without the division’s top fillies.

Grade 1 winner She’s a Tiger won’t be running. Her trainer, Jeff Bonde, said: “We’re all done for the year. We ran her six times and want to have her ready for the big races in spring.”

* Jockey Alonso Quinonez, sidelined since sustaining a hairline fracture of a tailbone in a spill on Sept. 21 at Barretts Sales and Racing, is scheduled to resume working horses Nov. 29 and expects to be cleared to ride in early December, according to agent Tony Matos.

* Holy Lute, 10th in the BC Dirt Mile, will run in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, according to trainer Jim Cassidy. The Malibu historically is run Dec. 26, opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet. As of Nov. 14, the track had not released its winter stakes schedule.

* No Jet Lag, sixth in the BC Mile, will sit out Hollywood fall and aim for the Sir Beaufort at Santa Anita, according to trainer Simon Callaghan. That one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds traditionally is run opening day of the winter meet.

* Joel Rosario will return to California for Grade 1 stakes at Hollywood on Dec. 1. According to agent Ron Anderson, Rosario will ride Tiz Flirtatious in the Matriarch and Jack Milton in the Hollywood Derby.