Hollywood Park notes: Hail Mary full of surprises

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hail Mary, the 3-year-old filly who was second in the Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita on March 30, can be deceptive in morning workouts.

"When she breezes, she looks like she's going in 1:01 or 1:02 and she goes in 58" seconds, said Phil D'Amato, trainer Mike Mitchell's assistant. "She fools you with how easy she does things."

Her ability may be plain to see when she starts in Saturday's $70,000 Warren's Thoroughbreds Stakes over seven furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park. The Warren's Thoroughbreds Stakes is a first-condition allowance race for California-bred fillies and mares.

Owned by breeder Nick Alexander, Hail Mary, 3, will be a strong favorite in her fourth start for owner-breeder Nick Alexander. She won her debut in a maiden race at Santa Anita on Jan. 26 and has trained well in recent weeks.

"She's doing super," D'Amato said.

There are four lucrative overnight races for maidens and allowance-class horses on Saturday's California Gold Rush program at Hollywood Park.

Tribal Dude, trained by Doug O'Neill, can end a six-race losing streak in the $60,000 NTRA Stakes for maiden colts and geldings over six furlongs. Tribal Dude was beaten a neck in a turf race at Santa Anita on April 6.

In the $70,000 Grey Memo Stakes, an allowance over seven furlongs, Derby Gold can win for the first time since the $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita in March 2012. Derby Gold has made only three starts since that race and was fourth in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in January in his last start.

"He's been off and on," trainer Bob Baffert said. "He's training well and he's on his game."
There are 13 runners in the day's final race, the $60,000 Alphabet Kisses Stakes for maiden fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Beitia having hand surgery

Jockey Jose Beitia, who was unseated when his mount slipped and fell in a turf race at Santa Anita on April 14, was scheduled to undergo surgery for a broken finger Thursday, according to his agent, Alex Procel-Crowley.

Beitia, who had one win at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, was expected to have stabilizing pins inserted in the finger. He is expected to be sidelined for two months, with an intended return to riding in late June.

Beitia rode one horse on April 18, but took off his other mounts last week.