Past Tender in U.S. debut for Yakteen

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The speed that Past Tender displayed in England last year is unlikely to be enough to take him to the lead in Friday's $65,000 Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park. That could work to the colt's advantage.

Drawn on the outside in the Henson, a turf sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs, Past Tender should get a stalking trip Friday in his first U.S. start.

"I think there will be a lot of speed," trainer Tim Yakteen said.

had 1 win in 6 starts in England, with the victory coming in a five-furlong race in June. In a seven-week period in July and August, he made five starts, finishing second or third four times.

Over the winter, Past Tender was bought by Jerry Jamgotchian and sent to Yakteen. In conversations with previous trainer Eoin O'Neill, Yakteen learned not to expect much from Past Tender in the morning.

"He's not a great work horse," Yakteen said. "Eoin had mentioned that to me. He's got a great stride, and I hope we'll be able to stretch him out."

Past Tender is likely to be in pursuit of Barber, Blaze It, and Ten Downing Street.

The Henson is the turf debut for Barber, Blaze It, Corazondelcampeon, John Hennessy, and The Pharaoh. Trained by Christopher Paasch, The Pharaoh has placed in five sprint stakes since last summer. He can lead or race just off the pace.

has not been worse than second in five starts, all in northern California, including two stakes at six furlongs. Blaze It was seventh in the WinStar Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Sunland Park on April 1, the longest race of his career. He was stakes-placed at Del Mar last summer. Ten Downing Street finished fifth in the Baldwin Stakes on dirt at Santa Anita on March 4.

A quick pace would help Add Heat and Plug Me In, winners on Santa Anita's hillside turf course.

is the lone filly in the field of 10. Trained by Neil Drysdale, Height of Delight is undefeated after two starts at Santa Anita, a maiden race in January and an optional claimer in February.

Drysdale said he planned to handicap the Henson Stakes before determining whether Height of Delight would start.

Asked why Height of Delight did not start in the Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita earlier this month, Drysdale said. "We just backed off and let her grow up."