What in Blazes puts Hollendorfer in win column
DEL MAR, Calif. – What in Blazes gave Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his first winner at Del Mar in 11 months when he won a maiden special weight race for California-bred 2-year-olds on Saturday.
The colt closed from fourth to take the lead on the turn and won the five-furlong race by 5 3/4 lengths at 2-5 under jockey Mike Smith. What in Blazes was second in his debut in a similar race on June 27 at Los Alamitos.
“I think he was unlucky to lose his first race,” Hollendorfer said. “He got trapped on the inside at Los Alamitos, which was not the place to be.”
Hollendorfer said the $100,000 I’m Smokin’ Stakes for statebred 2-year-olds at six furlongs on Sept. 4, or the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 6 could work for What in Blazes, who races for Kevin Nish.
“We’ll decide as we go along,” Hollendorfer said. “We have run California-breds in the Futurity and won.”
Hollendorfer, 75, won the 2013 Del Mar Futurity with the California-bred Tamarando.
For Hollendorfer, the journey to the Del Mar winner’s circle is a well-worn path. He tied for the leading trainer title at the 2014 summer meeting and was the outright winner in 2015.
Of late, Hollendorfer has not had the same level of success. In June 2019, Hollendorfer was ordered to vacate 46 stalls at Santa Anita after four horses in his care were euthanized as a result of injuries sustained during racing or training in the first six months of that year.
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Hollendorfer’s stable has been based at Del Mar, Los Alamitos, and Monmouth Park in the last two summers. Hollendorfer was based at Oaklawn Park this past winter. The circumstances have led to Hollendorfer training fewer horses.
Last year, Hollendorfer’s lone win at Del Mar came with Sneaking Out in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap.