Strong team behind Nolde in Hollywood Derby

DEL MAR, Calif. – Fresh off a victory with Midcourt in the Grade 3 Native Diver last Saturday at Del Mar, trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Victor Espinoza will team anew this Saturday with Nolde in the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby.

Nolde won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby here during the summer, but disappointed last time out in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby. He has won three times in five starts since Espinoza took over as his rider in May, one of several horses for whom Shirreffs and Espinoza work closely, starting with training in the morning.

“Victor is an excellent horseman,” Shirreffs said. “He gives me a lot of information on a horse. He can appraise a horse’s talent. And for his size, he’s so strong. I wouldn’t want to arm wrestle with him.”

Espinoza said he and Shirreffs “connect.”

“Communication is important. If you’re a team, working together, you can have success,” Espinoza said. “The whole barn right now is doing good.

“When I ride for John, I ride with confidence because he trusts me. I can do what I want to do and he won’t get upset. Everybody makes mistakes. But when I ride for trainers who trust me, it makes my job easy.”

The Hollywood Derby, at 1 1/8 miles on turf, could have an overflow field. Others under consideration for the race include Digital Age, Henley’s Joy, Kingly, Mo Forza, Moody Jim, Mr Dumas, Neptune’s Storm, Originaire, Standard Deviation, Succeedandsurpass, Tracksmith, Uncle Bull, and Valid Point.

Neptune’s Storm (1:03.60) and Succeedandsurpass (1:01.80) both worked five furlongs on the turf on Sunday morning at Del Mar. Henley’s Joy worked five furlongs on the dirt on Sunday at Del Mar in 1:03.60.

Four stakes Saturday

The Hollywood Derby card is supported by the three other stakes, including the Grade 3 Red Carpet, which was originally scheduled to be run Thursday but was postponed owing to the cancellation of racing on Thanksgiving Day.

The Red Carpet – a 1 3/8-mile grass race for older females – was to be re-drawn, and by Sunday had lost one of its original members. Trainer Christophe Clement informed the racing office that Candy Store would not ship west.

The other top contenders, including Siberian Iris, runner-up in the Red Carpet last year, were all expected to enter back when entries for Saturday’s card are taken Wednesday.

Saturday’s card also includes the Grade 2, $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf for older horses, and the Grade 3, $100,000 Jimmy Durante for 2-year-old fillies.

The Seabiscuit line-up is expected to include Andesh, Cleopatra’s Strike, Majestic Eagle, Next Shares, Om, Prince Earl, Restrainedvengence, Ritzy A.P., River Boyne, Ronald R, Sacred Life, and True Valour, who was assigned top weight of 123 pounds, one more than Cleopatra's Strike.

Andesh (1:01.40), Cleopatra’s Strike (1:00.40), Majestic Eagle (1:01.60), Next Shares (1:03.60), and Prince Earl (1:01) all worked five furlongs on the Del Mar turf Sunday.

Expected for the Durante, at one mile on turf, are A G Indy, Alms, Applecross, Croughavouke, Guitty, Overjoyed, Quality Heat, and perhaps Wise Rachel. Been Studying Her will skip the race and await the Soviet Problem at Los Alamitos, according to Dan Ward, the top local assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Been Studying Her worked five furlongs on the dirt on Sunday at Del Mar in 1:02.40.

Three stakes on closing day

With the Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup postponed from Friday to Sunday, the closing-day card will now have three stakes, highlighted by the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch and also including the Grade 3, $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille.

The Turf Cup, at 1 1/2 miles for older runners, is expected to include Brown Storm, High Promise, Itsinthepost, Marzo, Oscar Dominguez, Overdue, and United, the Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up. Arklow will not ship west, trainer Brad Cox informed the racing office on Sunday.

The Matriarch, at one mile on turf for older females, is topped by Got Stormy, second last time out in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Others expected for the race are Daddy Is a Legend, Heavenhasmynikki, Juliet Foxtrot, Significant Form, Simply Breathless, Storm the Hill, and Toinette.

Daddy Is a Legend worked four furlongs on the Del Mar turf on Sunday in 49 seconds, and Simply Breathless went the same distance in 48.80 seconds. Storm the Hill worked five furlongs on turf in 1:00, the best time of 13 at the distance.

The DeMille, at one mile on turf for 2-year-olds, is likely to have a large field, with Albert Park, Billy Batts, Encoder, Fore Left, Goliad, Hariboux, Hit the Road, Jack and Noah, Kanderel, Last Opportunity, Liar Liar, Our Country, Smooth Like Strait, and War Beast all under consideration. Last Opportunity worked six furlongs on turf in 1:16 on Sunday.