Outta Here stays put for once

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Outta Here, the 4-year-old colt who has raced in three countries, is practically slumming when he appears in a $54,000 allowance race on turf at Hollywood Park on Friday evening.

Since the start of 2003, Outta Here has had a remarkably diverse international campaign. He finished fourth in the $2 million UAE Derby in Dubai, seventh in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, and ninth in the Japan Cup Dirt at Tokyo Racecourse.

Trainer and co-owner Bill Currin said he had hoped to send Outta Here to England earlier this month, but he ran out of time.

"I gave him three weeks off too long," Currin said.

, who has won 2 of 14 starts and $559,172, has not started since the Japan Cup Dirt last November. His last win came in the $500,000 Delta Jackpot Stakes at Delta Downs in December 2002, his only stakes win.

Since the Japan Cup Dirt, Outta Here has remained with Currin at Hollywood Park.

"I kept him at the track and tack-walked him," Currin said.

Despite his recent losses, Outta Here fits at this level. He finished a game second as the favorite in a one-mile turf allowance race at Del Mar last August.

Friday's allowance race is run over 1 1/16 miles on turf and has drawn eight entrants. Outta Here, who will be ridden for the first time by Jon Court, has drawn the outside post. He has yet to win in three starts on turf but was third in the 2002 Generous Stakes over this course.

Outta Here has several rivals who have run well in recent starts.

won an allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on turf May 8, his first victory since arriving from Argentina last year.

Hatif and Grafton placed in races at this level in their last starts. Hatif was a Group 1 winner in Brazil in 2002 but is winless in his last eight starts. In his only start of 2004, on March 25, he was beaten 2 1/2 lengths in a 1 1/4-mile race on turf at Santa Anita.

Grafton was an unlucky third in an allowance race May 5. Well placed in early stretch, Grafton got stuck in traffic before the eighth pole and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Outta Here will need a quick pace to develop to have a winning chance. Currin says he expects a big performance.

"I think he will run quite well," Currin said. "He's dead-level fit."