O'Neill puts Whatsthescript back on turf

ARCADIA, Calif. - After capturing two grass stakes last fall, Whatsthescript was given a chance on an artificial surface in the Hollywood Futurity. He wasn't beaten all that badly, just 4 1/4 lengths, but he did finish last of 10. That one-shot experiment is over. Whatsthescript goes back to the turf on Friday at Santa Anita for his 3-year-old debut in the $75,000 Pasadena Stakes, in which he is expected to be favored against 11 rivals.

Some things have changed for Whatsthescript since he was last seen on Dec. 16. He is a year older, and he has switched barns, with trainer Doug O'Neill having taken over the Tommy Town-owned horses from Manny Marques.

Whatsthescript won once in three starts in Ireland before coming to the United States for an aggressive three-race campaign last fall. He won the Pinjara Stakes during Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, captured the Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park, then ran in the Hollywood Futurity, the only time he has finished out of the money.

Whatsthescript drew post 11 in the one-mile grass race.

Blues Street has run two strong races over this course this meet. After a narrow loss against maidens on Jan. 7, he came back and defeated maidens with a strong stretch run on Feb. 4 while being ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez, who is back aboard Friday.

Trainer David Hofmans entered Corvinus and Silent Soul, who are coupled in the wagering. Silent Soul is far more accomplished. He won against maidens in his lone start on turf at Hollywood Park in November before moving straight into stakes company. He most recently was fifth of seven in the Sham Stakes.

Corvinus won his lone start, against maidens on the turf, at Fair Grounds on Jan. 15.

A maximum of 12 can run, but 13 were entered. Under the conditions of the race, Yario was placed on the also-eligible list. He won once in six starts in Ireland last year before being privately purchased by bloodstock agent Eddie Harty, the father of trainer Eoin Harty, who now has the colt.

"He was a bargain-basement colt," Eoin Harty said Wednesday morning at Santa Anita. "We bought him for the same people who had Shamoan. He had good form early in the year, and then he tailed off."

If Yario gets in, he will be making his first start since October. He ran well fresh last year, finishing second of 13 in a maiden race at Leopardstown after breaking poorly.

Vauquelin is another top contender. He was second in the Generous to Whatsthescript after defeating maidens. In five starts, he has never finished worse than second.