Idol held out of Oaklawn Handicap to await Hollywood Gold Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Idol, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, will not be sent to Oaklawn Park as planned for next Saturday’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, trainer Richard Baltas said.

Idol will run in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 31.

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“I’ll stay here,” Baltas said. “I don’t want to push him. It’s a long year and I want to space his races out.”

Idol has had three starts at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, beginning with a second in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26. He was third in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 30.

Owned by Calvin Nguyen, Idol, 4, has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $416,464.

Idol would win a $1 million bonus if he can sweep the Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August. The Big Cap was the first race in the three-race series.