Hollywood Park: Shared Belief impresses in Hollywood Prevue Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Shared Belief won his stakes debut in Sunday’s $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park as easily as he beat maidens in his first career start at Golden Gate Fields last month.

In the maiden race, Shared Belief won a six-furlong race by seven lengths. In the Grade 3 Prevue Stakes over seven furlongs, Shared Belief ($5) won by 7 3/4 lengths, pulling clear of four rivals in the final furlong.

“You couldn’t expect a horse to be that convincing in his second start,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Shared Belief was timed in 1:22.17. He finished clear of Kobe’s Back, who had won his lone start in the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes here in June. Brother Soldier, a 24-1 outsider, finished third in a field of five.

Shared Belief tracked pacesetter Papa Turf through early fractions of 22.56 and 46.06 seconds. Shared Belief took the lead entering the stretch and was not challenged. Hollendorfer said he was surprised to see Shared Belief that close to the pace.

“I thought he’d be laying farther off the pace,” Hollendorfer said. “It was a good decision on [Nakatani’s] part.”

Shared Belief ran the final furlong in 11.76 seconds.

Shared Belief is a gelding by Candy Ride. When he beat maidens Oct. 19, Shared Belief was owned by breeders Pam and Marty Wygod and trained by Jedd Josephson. In late October, Hollendorfer purchased Shared Belief privately on behalf of a partnership that includes himself, Jim Rome, Alex Solis II, George Todaro, and Jason Litt.

Shared Belief has earned $76,200 from his two wins.