Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park
Las Vegas, NV - The 34th running of the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap comes our way this Sunday, June 3rd from Betfair Hollywood Park. Three year olds will run 1 1/16 miles on Hollywood Park's all weather track in search of their share of the $100,000 purse.
A field of seven entries has been compiled for the Affirmed. It is slated for the eighth race on Hollywood Park's Sunday card with a post time of 4:40 PM. Here is a brief look at all seven entries and their recent performances ahead of this Grade 3 event.
2012 Affirmed Handicap Race Favorites
Liaison - Liaison had a tremendous juvenile campaign but has since faltered failing to place in his last four starts - a sixth last time out in the Kentucky Derby followed a sixth, a fourth and an eighth in his graded stakes action in 2012. Liaison finished well back in the Derby and was over nine lengths behind I'll Have Another in the Santa Anita Derby before that. He will wear blinkers this weekend and the competition isn't quite at the caliber of his previous 2012 starts so hopes are that Liaison can regain his form for trainer Bob Baffert.
American Act - broke maiden on January 16th at Santa Anita over the very impressive Bob Baffert trained Bodemeister and finished second last time out in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Memorial on this track on May 12th. Prior to that result American Act had a win here in the Harry Henson Stakes to avenge a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 San Felipe. In 2012 American Act has five starts with two wins and two second place finishes. He may be a tad inconsistent but when on, American Act can certainly challenge.
Affirmed Handicap 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
Gun Boat - another Bob Baffert colt Gun Boat has only four career starts - the last being a decent third in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial on this track. Prior to that was a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming in his only other start of 2012. His last race of 2011 was a fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity behind the likes of stable mate Drill. Gun Boat broke maiden in his only other start of 2011 - a Maiden Special Weight score at Del Mar on August 6th. He will wear blinkers for the first time this weekend just like Baffert's other entry.
Affirmed Handicap betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Holy Candy - had raced four Maiden Special Weight races with a win and three second place finishes before a decent fourth most recently after a brutal start in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 14th. That result was the only race in which Holy Candy has not placed in five career starts.
Blingo - Blingo was an impressive winner in her first career start in November but finished 6th in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on this track on December 17th and sixth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 10th. Last time out was another impressive score in the La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita on April 20th.
Nonios - will be making his graded stakes debut after breaking maiden at Golden gate on February 11th and following it up with a win and a third respectively in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races at Golden Gate.
Unusual Heatwave - will also be making his graded stakes debut after a win last time out in this track in the Snow Chief Stakes on April 28th to follow up a fourth in the Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita on March 23rd. In nine career starts Unusual Heatwave has two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes.
2012 Affirmed Handicap Entries & Odds
Race 8 on Hollywood Park's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:40 PM.
