Hollywood Park: Power Series gelded, gets class relief

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Power Series drops in class from a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita in April to an optional claimer at Hollywood Park on Thursday, but it may only be a temporary break from stakes.

Trainer Mike Mitchell is hoping that Power Series, racing as a gelding for the first time, will show enough in Thursday’s race over 1 1/4 miles on turf to merit a quick return to graded stakes for turf marathoners this summer.

“He’s a good horse, and I think gelding him really changed him,” Mitchell said.”It’s kind of an important race, because I think he has to win the race for me to think about bigger things. I do think he’s a marathon-type horse because I think he can run all day. That’s why I took a shot in the San Juan.”

Owned by Don Capen and sports-television host Jim Rome, Power Series has one win in 10 starts, a maiden race on the synthetic track at Wolverhampton, England, in 2010. A 4-year-old, Power Series joined Mitchell’s stable last winter and has made two starts in this country, beginning with a fifth in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on April 8, nine days before the San Juan Capistrano. In both races, he led before being passed in the final furlong.

Power Series is part of a seven-horse field in Thursday’s race. Four of the runners – Interpatation, Kingsville, Red Alert Day, and They Call Him El – are entered to be claimed for $40,000.

They Call Him El will race over 1 1/4 miles for the first time. A 4-year-old gelding, he was third of four runners in a $32,000 claimer over 1 1/16 miles on June 5.

Red Alert Day was fourth of six in the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Handicap over 1 1/4 miles on turf June 11, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by Acclamation. Prior to that, Red Alert Day won a $32,000 claimer over a mile on turf on May 15, the day he was claimed by his current owners and trainer – Gary and Cecil Barber and John Sadler.

On Thursday, Tippety Tap Tap makes his first start against winners following a win in a maiden race over 1 1/16 miles on May 19. In the maiden win, Tippety Tap Tap closed well late, suggesting longer distances will suit the 4-year-old gelding.