Hollywood Harbor, voted Top Juvenile in 2009, returned to the winner’s circle Saturday with a three-quarter-length victory in the $20,000 Scarff Ford Purse for older sprinters at Emerald Downs.
With regular rider Jose Zunino aboard at 120 lbs., Hollywood Harbor ran 6-½ furlongs in 1:15.17 on a fast track and paid $4.60, $3 and $2.60. Trainer Chris Stenslie co-owns Hollywood Harbor with One Horse Will Do Corp. (Jody Peetz, Issaquah)
Hollywood Harbor broke a step slow, rushed up inside to take a short lead over Boundtogetbusy, led through fractions of 22.25 seconds, 44.75 and 1:08.81, and held off the closers for the victory.
A triple stakes winner in 2009, Hollywood Harbor missed almost his entire 3-year-old season with injury, but appears to have come back good as new. He ran a good second vs. Bogachiel in his comeback May 1, and put it all together Saturday for his first victory since the 2009 WTBA Lads Stakes. A 4-year-old Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold-Miss Slewette, Hollywood Harbor is 4-2-0 in seven starts overall, with earnings of $85,281.
Davos, ridden by Leslie Mawing at 120 lbs., rallied from last to finish second and paid $3.60 and $3.
It was 1-¾ lengths back to third-place finisher Cat On Base, ridden by Javier Matias at 124 lbs., and a $2.80 show payoff. Cat On Base has finished first, second or third in all 11 career starts, including two this year.
Margo’s Gift, Boundtogetbusy and Seven Torrents completed the order of finish.
NOTES: Leonel Camacho-Flores sustained a sprained ankle in a training accident Saturday morning and was off his four scheduled mounts Saturday afternoon. Buddy Dave ($5.60), ridden by Leslie Mawing in place of Camacho-Flores, prevailed in the opener.
Pedro Terrero rode three winners on the nine-race card.
And congratulations to Emerald Downs’ Vice President Jack Hodge, co-owner of the 3-year-old colt Willcox Inn, an easy winner Saturday in the $100,000 Arlington Classic on the turf at Arlington Park…Live racing continues Sunday with first post at 2:15 p.m. The $50,000 Seattle Handicap for 3-year-old fillies tops the nine-race card, with Elusive Noise the 2-to-1 morning line favorite.
Hollywood Park, meanwhile, has a Pick Six carryover of $86,254 on races four through nine. Post time for the fourth race in Inglewood is 2:34 p.m
