Hollywood Harbor put on a torrid display of speed Sunday at Emerald Downs. The 5-year-old Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold set a world record time of 1:00.87 for 5-½ furlongs, and scored a three-length victory over Aaron the Baron in the $21,625 allowance feature for 3-year-olds and up.
It was the second time in eight days that a horse seemingly set a world record in a 5-½ furlong race at Emerald Downs. On April 14, Cat On Base ran 5-½ furlongs in 1:01.37, however it was later learned that on June 22, 2009, at defunct Yavapai Downs in Arizona, a California-bred named Rule by Force had run 5-½ furlongs in 1:01.03. So instead of a world record, Cat On Base settled for a three-way tie for the track record.
No mistakes this time: Hollywood Harbor now owns both the track and world record. The chestnut gelding swept past Hayjax at the five-sixteenths pole, opened a 1-½ length lead into the lane, and drew off to win with complete authority. The fractions were :21.46, :43.50 and :54.85.
Ridden by Jose Zunino at 118 lbs., Hollywood Harbor paid $3, $2.80 and $2.10. Voted the track’s champion 2-Year-Old in 2009, Hollywood Harbor has compiled a 6-3-0 record in 10 career starts with earnings of $112,786.
The victory also sets up a potential showdown between Hollywood Harbor and another son of Harbor the Gold*two-time Horse of the Meeting Noosa Beach*in the $50,000 Governor’s Handicap at 6-½ furlongs on Sunday, May 20.
Zunino, who has ridden Hollywood Harbor in eight of his 10 career starts, quipped after Sunday’s race: “I was hoping no police officer would give me a ticket (for speeding).”
Chris Stenslie, who trains and co-owns Hollywood Harbor with Jody Peetz of One Horse Will Do Corp, said of Hollywood Harbor: “I love him. He’s special.”
Aaron the Baron, a 28-to-1 long shot ridden by Rocco Bowen at 118 lbs, held second place and paid $14.80 and $5.20. Noosa Beach’s conditioner, Doris Harwood, coincidentally, trains the runner-up.
Hayjax, ridden by Leslie Mawing at 118 lbs., held third place and paid $4.20. The 4-year-old Souvenir Copy gelding sprinted to an early lead inside, running the opening quarter in :21.46, before yielding command to Hollywood Harbor entering the turn.
Couldabenthewhisky, the second betting choice at 7-to-2, finished fourth and was followed under the wire by Davos and He’s All Heart.
NOTES: Peetz and Stenslie also clicked in the seventh race with Showme Yourfriends ($6.20), a 4-year-old Delineator gelding that improved to 4-3-1 in 10 starts with a one-length victory in the $20,000 claiming race. Co-owned by Tina & Scott Saxwold, Showme Yourfriends won the 2011 Auburn Handicap at 50-to-1 in one of the biggest upsets in Emerald Downs stakes history*The first DQ of the meet occurred in Race 4 as Brudda Clyde and jockey Gallyn Mitchell crossed the wire first but were placed fourth for interfering with fourth-place finisher Big Bad Jim into the stretch. Rockymystar ($9) was promoted to first*The work tab was loaded Sunday as 157 horses recorded drills on a perfect morning at Emerald Downs. Jeff Harwood’s Noosa Beach had his first five-furlong workout of the year, timed in 1:00-2/5 (handily) for trainer Doris Harwood, and Ron & Rosalie Warren’s 2011 Top 3-Year-Old Jebrica worked five furlongs from the gate in :58-1/5 (handily) for trainer Jim Penney. And yet another horse earmarked for the older handicap decision*double stakes winner Zayda*breezed three furlongs in :38-1/5 for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Heidi Nelson*You Me and Ema B, voted Top Older Filly or Mare in 2011, breezed five furlongs in 1:00-3/5 for trainer Margo Lloyd in a tune-up for the $50,000 Hastings Handicap on May 13*Our Eagle Boy, upset winner of the Chinook Pass Stakes, worked six furlongs from the starting gate in 1:13-1/5 for trainer Chris Stenslie*Hats off to 4-year-old filly Lafayette Star, 10-for-19 after a $3,500 claiming victory in Sunday’s opener. The Benchmark filly ran 6-½ furlongs in 1:16.63 for jockey Joe Crispin and owner/trainer Nick Lowe. Lafayette Star paid $4.60 as the betting favorite, and was claimed by Rigoberto Velasquez for Lisa Baze and Pam Tummincoo*William Antongeorgi and Joe Crispin rode two winners apiece on the nine-race card. After two weeks, Eliska Kubinova leads the standings with six wins and there is a six-way tie for second place between Leonel Camacho-Flores, Juan Gutierrez, Debbie Hoonan, Leslie Mawing, Crispin and Antongeorgi*Frank Lucarelli saddled two winners on both Saturday and Sunday to move atop the trainers’ standings with six wins*Trainer Tim Harder is two-for-two at the meet as Silver Sneakers ($4) romped in the fifth race under Crispin*Congratulations to Bellevue residents David & Jill Heerensperger as their amazing 6-year-old gelding Bourbon Bay captured the 1-¾ mile San Juan Capistrano Handicap (G2) by a nose over Eagle Poise on closing day of Santa Anita’s 2011-12 Winter/Spring Meeting*Hollywood Park opens its 2012 Spring/Summer Meeting on Thursday*Live racing at Emerald Downs resumes Friday with first post at 6 p.m.
