Hollywood Park notes: Eurton sends out promising colt on Sunday

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Dance With Fate makes the first start of his career in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds over five furlongs in Sunday’s ninth race. A few strides after the start, trainer Peter Eurton will know whether Dance With Fate can win.

“He’s doing things the right way, but he’s not super quick out of the gate,” Eurton said.

Purchased for $120,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s sale of 2-year-olds in training in April and owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing, Dance With Fate is by Two Step Salsa. In recent weeks, Dance With Fate has worked quickly. Eurton said that when Dance With Fate worked a half-mile from the gate in 48.20 seconds on July 5, he went the final three furlongs in 35 seconds.

Rafael Bejarano, who began Friday’s program second in the standings to Joe Talamo, has the mount.

“Bejarano has worked him three times, and he likes him a lot,” Eurton said.

Dance With Fate drew the outside post 10.

All of the entrants are first-time starters. Trainer Doug O’Neill starts Rum Point, a Malibu Moon colt who was nominated for Saturday’s $150,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship. Bob Baffert starts American Pride, a colt by Closing Argument who was purchased for $180,000 at the Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training and is owned by Kaleem Shah. American Pride has worked quickly in recent weeks at Santa Anita.

The maiden race is the ninth race on an 11-race program on the final day of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting.

A win and a baby for Blackers

It is safe to say there will never be a day like Thursday for Dan and Christina Blacker.

Shortly after 2 p.m., Sunset Skies, trained by Dan Blacker, won the third race at Hollywood Park. Shortly after 3 p.m., Christina Blacker, a racing television commentator on HRTV, gave birth to the couple’s first child. Margo Blacker was born at 3:11 p.m., weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces.

“After Sunset Skies arrived, the baby arrived,” Dan Blacker said Friday morning.

Operating on about 30 minutes of sleep, Dan Blacker skipped morning activity at the stables to spend time with his wife and daughter, who were scheduled to go home over the weekend.

◗ Jockey Edwin Maldonado has been suspended three days – July 18-20 – for causing interference in Thursday’s seventh race. Maldonado rode Pulpit’s Express, who finished first but was disqualified and placed sixth for lugging to the inside in early stretch.