Vasilika leads off Hollendorfer's stakes lineup

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer swept last Sunday’s stakes at Del Mar with Battle of Midway in the Native Diver and Flying Scotsman in the Cecil B. DeMille, and now he’ll be taking aim at some of the biggest prizes left on the circuit this year, including the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes on closing day here Sunday with Vasilika.

“It’s a tough race, but we’ve got a tough horse,” Hollendorfer said.

Indeed, the $300,000 Matriarch, at one mile on turf for females, is shaping up as an outstanding race. Several invaders are expected to run, most notably the Chad Brown-trained trio of Quidura, Rymska, and Uni, as well as Daddy Is a Legend, Dona Bruja, Mission Impassible, and Valadorna.

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Vasilika is the best of the locals, and she will come into the Matriarch riding an eight-race winning streak, including the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive and Grade 2 Goldikova at Santa Anita in her last two starts. She won twice here during the summer meeting, including the Grade 2 John Mabee.

Hollendorfer is scheduled to have runners in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos on Dec. 8, as well as the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Santa Anita’s opening day, Dec. 26.

Dueling and Gunmetal Gray, who finished fifth and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile earlier this month, both are candidates for the Futurity. They worked in company on Sunday at Santa Anita, going five furlongs in 1:01.

“The Futurity is possible for either one or both,” Hollendorfer said.

He is pointing the comebacking Kanthaka to the Malibu. Unraced since winning the Grade 3 Laz Barrera at Santa Anita in May, Kanthaka worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Tuesday morning at Santa Anita.

“That race is always very tough,” Hollendorfer said Tuesday. “I want to make sure he’s ready.”

Hollendorfer said Kanthaka was off because “he had a tiny problem in an ankle.”

“We gave him plenty of time,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a problem ever again.”

Battle of Midway and Flying Scotsman both could join Kanthaka early at the Santa Anita meeting. Battle of Midway is being pointed to the Grade 2 San Antonio on Dec. 26, while Flying Scotsman could go in the Eddie Logan on Dec. 28.

“I don’t know if we’ll run in that race or not, but it’s certainly under consideration,” Hollendorfer said Tuesday of Flying Scotsman. “I hate to be a big predictor, but I really like this horse a lot. He came home fast.”