Hollywood Park: Unbridled's Note tries new course in Turf Express

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – In the last 15 months, Unbridled’s Note has won 2 of 5 starts in turf sprints, all at Santa Anita, and was second and fourth in the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Last month, Unbridled’s Note was beaten 1 3/4 lengths when fourth to winner Mizdirection in the Turf Sprint.

The relatively narrow loss has left trainer Steve Asmussen hopeful Unbridled’s Note can win Sunday’s $100,000 Hollywood Turf Express at six furlongs on grass at Betfair Hollywood Park.

“It was solid,” Asmussen said of Unbridled’s Note’s effort in the Turf Sprint. “Obviously, we were hoping to win. He’s a very nice horse. I’m anxious to see how he runs on the Hollywood track.”

Owned by Mike McCarty, Unbridled’s Note makes his first start at Hollywood Park in the final turf sprint stakes in track history. Hollywood Park will close permanently as a racing venue after the current meeting ends on Dec. 22.

Regular rider Corey Nakatani rides Unbridled’s Note in the field of five. Unbridled’s Note is capable of racing on the lead, as he did when winning the Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last February, or stalking the pace, as he did when a game third to Turf Express runners Chips All In and Boat Trip in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside in September.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” Asmussen said.

Chips All In and Boat Trip finished ninth and 12th, respectivelyl, in the field of 13 in the Turf Sprint, and both are back on Sunday. The other runners in the Turf Express are Jonny’s Choice and No Silent, who each have won allowance races or optional claiming races at six furlongs on turf at Hollywood Park this year.

Chips All In was as close as fourth with a furlong remaining in the Turf Sprint.

“He never got a chance to run,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “He was stuck on the rail the whole way.”

Mullins said that Chips All In is adaptable to any pace scenario on Sunday.

“He doesn’t have to be on the lead and he’s definitely good tracking,” he said.

Boat Trip is a closer who never had a chance in the Turf Sprint, trainer Mike Pender said.

“He got pinched and blew a shoe at the start of the race,” Pender said. “That was the end of that. It couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“I expect him to run better. He’s really fond of that Hollywood Park strip. We wish there was more pace to run at.”