Super Quercus, from last to first in Turf Cup
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Super Quercus, whose career has been frequently interrupted by injury, rallied wide through the stretch to win Saturday's $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup* (click here for chart) at Hollywood Park.
Coupled with Northern Quest, who was second in the 2000 Hollywood Turf Cup, Super Quercus closed from last to win his first Grade 1 in the Turf Cup.
Most Likely, a longshot, led by as many as 10 lengths in the first six furlongs, but came back to the field after a mile. Kudos took over on the final turn, but was quickly challenged by Blazing Fury, Kerrygold, and Williams News.
Super Quercus was wide until the final sixteenth, when he took the lead under jockey Alex Solis. Super Quercus finished two lengths in front of Bonapartiste, who was a half-length in front of Blazing Fury. Williams News finished fourth, followed by Kudos, Sumitas, Northern Quest, Kerrygold, and Most Likely. Northern Quest, racing inside, could not sustain a rally through the stretch after being forced to wait for racing room.
Super Quercus finished 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.86, scoring his second stakes win of the year. He won the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap on Sept. 22, his most recent start prior to Saturday. A 5-year-old, Super Quercus is trained by Bobby Frankel and owned by Charles Kenis and Audrey Skirball Kenis.
A winner of 6 of 16 starts and $717,171, Super Quercus won the 1999 Hollywood Derby over this course.
The field was reduced to nine after Monsajem, Lord Jim, Boismorand, and Momentum were scratched.
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