Texas Glitter takes Hollywood Turf Express

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Texas Glitter won the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express on Friday at Hollywood Park, avenging a third-place finish in 2001 and a fourth last year.

Ridden by John Velazquez, Texas Glitter finished 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in a quick 1:01.52.

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Texas Glitter ($6.60) broke from the rail and stalked pacesetter Rocky Bar through rapid fractions of 21.21 and 43.41. In early stretch, Velazquez switched Texas Glitter to the outside of Rocky Bar and caught the frontrunner in the final sixteenth, winning by three-quarters of a length.

Rocky Bar finished a length in front of Malabar Gold, the 8-5 favorite who rallied wide in the stretch but could not reach the front. El Cielo, the winner of the 2000 Hollywood Turf Express, finished fourth, followed by Mighty Beau.

The 6-year-old Texas Glitter races for a partnership and is trained by Todd Pletcher. He has won 11 of 36 starts and $826,077.