Tempus Volat steps up to face classy foes in Hollywood Derby
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DEL MAR, Calif. – The Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Saturday at Del Mar arrives at the right time for Tempus Volat. Since late summer, the improving colt has won twice on turf at Del Mar in one-mile races – a maiden race on Aug. 30 and the restricted Let It Ride Stakes on Oct. 30.
The $300,000 Hollywood Derby is a much tougher assignment. Tempus Volat, owned by John Sondereker and trained by Leonard Powell, must beat the graded stakes winner Test Score and the stakes winners Salamis and Tom’s Magic in a field of nine.
Tempus Volat deserves a chance, Powell said.
“I hope he can improve enough to be a factor,” Powell said Sunday. “I’m very happy with him.”
Powell said Tempus Volat “put it all together” in the Let It Ride Stakes, closing from third of seven to win by a half-length over Friendly Confines, who is part of the Hollywood Derby field.
“He was able to rate and pounce,” Powell said. “This is a logical step to go for the Hollywood Derby.”
The Hollywood Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles. Test Score won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on turf at Santa Anita at that distance.
Powell said a longer race will work for Tempus Volat, but he respects Test Score, who is trained by Graham Motion.
“Test Score is the horse to beat,” Powell said.
The Hollywood Derby is the leading race on Saturday’s 11-race program and part of a three-day racing weekend at Del Mar from Friday through Sunday that includes eight stakes. The Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf will be run Sunday and has a purse of $300,000.
Sunday is the final day of the Del Mar autumn meeting. Los Alamitos has a two-week meeting from Dec 5-14.
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