Woodbine: Hollywood Hit gets rare opportunity to run in King Corrie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hollywood Hit, Canada’s reigning champion sprinter, is in the midst of another productive year, and will be favored Wednesday night at Woodbine in the $100,000 King Corrie Stakes.

Hollywood Hit romped in the 2009 King Corrie, while lowering the six-furlong track record, but was subsequently disqualified due to a minor drug positive, and his track record was erased. He made amends last year by taking the King Corrie by a half-length over Trend.

Hollywood Hit has started just three times this year. He was a distant fourth after tracking the rapid Essence Hit Man following a seven-month layoff in the May 8 Vigil, a seven-furlong stakes which he won in track-record time last year.

Trainer Terry Jordan said rating tactics hindered Hollywood Hit in the Grade 3 Vigil.

“That [subpar] race was our fault,” Jordan explained. “We thought we’d let Essence Hit Man go, and we took back. We tried to rate him, and it didn’t work. He likes to run his own way. If you push him, he doesn’t like it, and if you take a hold of him, he doesn’t like it.”

Hollywood Hit rebounded in the 5 1/2-furlong Karl Boyes Memorial Stakes at Presque Isle. He raced in second before taking control in the stretch en route to a 2 1/2-length tally.

“We let him run his own race at Presque Isle,” said Jordan. “That other horse was three in front of him, and when he decided to go after him, he went after him and beat him easily.”

Hollywood Hit is coming off a fast score over Signature Red in the 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture Stakes. Under 124 pounds, he covered the distance in 1:14.76, earning a 102 Beyer Figure.

Jordan said Hollywood Hit has been idle since the July 20 Bold Venture due to lack of opportunities.

“There was nowhere to run him,” said Jordan. “Every year is the same. There are five or six races for sprinters, and that’s it. The next one isn’t until the end of the year.”

Jordan also entered Sports Select, who’s exiting a front-running victory in a six-furlong optional claimer.

Signature Red was the lukewarm favorite Aug. 28 in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes on turf, but finished a non-threatening eighth after racing wide.

Trainer Sid Attard said Signature Red needs to be forwardly placed in order to be effective.

“If he’s not one-two-three, he won’t run,” Attard explained.