Hollywood Park: Market Quote just needs a break

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Market Quote had the flashiest win of the Santa Anita meeting earlier this year when she closed 18 lengths after a slow start to win a maiden race at a mile on turf in January.

Unfortunately, a similar scenario did not work in an allowance race on March 23, when she broke slowly, trailed by 10 lengths and finished third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite.

In the last two months, Market Quote has been schooled extensively in the gate, leading to anticipation for her third start, which comes in a $54,000 allowance race at Betfair Hollywood Park on Friday. Trained by John Shirreffs for breeders Marty and Pam Wygod, Market Quote is part of a field of seven in a one-mile turf race.

Joe Talamo was aboard Market Quote for her first two starts and has the mount on Friday. A repeat of the stretch run of her loss on March 23 may be good enough to win, he said.

“If she runs that race back, she’ll be tough to beat,” Talamo said. “They’ve been working with her in the gate.”

Market Quote was beaten by Top Kisser, who was later third in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares. Talamo noted that the final quarter-mile of that race was run in 22.60 seconds, and that Market Quote closed on the leaders.

“I thought her second race wasn’t bad,” Talamo said. “She’s a pretty nice filly.”

Market Quote must catch Tribal Chatter, who won a maiden race at six furlongs on May 23 in her turf debut. Friday’s race will be her first at a mile.

“Going a mile, she can take an early lead and be comfortable,” her trainer, Victor Garcia, said. “We’ll find out if she can go that long.”

In Friday’s seventh race, an optional claimer at six furlongs on turf, The Whole Deal can win his third consecutive race.

The Whole Deal’s last two wins came in optional claimers, one at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on April 4, and the other at six furlongs on turf at Hollywood Park on May 5.

Trained by Steve Knapp for Paul Ladin, The Whole Deal will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado. He is part of a field of seven on Friday. Sirocco Strike, who drew the rail, will be a late threat.