Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park
Las Vegas, NV - Betfair Hollywood Park will be the scene of the Grade 2 Citation Handicap this Friday, November 23. Horses three years old and upward will be after their share of the $250,000 purse when they go 1 1/16 miles on Hollywood Park`s turf track.
The Citation has attracted a strong field of eight for race 9 on Hollywood Park`s Friday card. Post time is 4:35 PM. Let`s take a look at all eight entries and their recent performances ahead of this Grade 2 race.
2012 Citation Handicap Race Favorites
Jeranimo - Jeranimo returned to prominence most recently with a win in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile after a decent second in the race before - the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate. He was third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile August 26 - the third straight race in which he placed before a sixth last time out in the Breeders' Cup Mile. His other results in 2012 include a fourth in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe and a second at the Grade 2 San Gabriel on January 16. Despite flying under the radar a tad this year, he has finished in the money in four of six races and as the defending champion in this race and winner of three of four starts on this track he is the likely favorite.
Ultimate Eagle - Ultimate Eagle debuted on dirt at The Strub Stakes, won that race over Tapizar and holds surprising wins in the Grade 3 Oak Tree Derby and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last November on this very track. He has been out of action since a very disappointing tenth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Park Handicap March 3 as 2-1 favorite. He has won five of his last seven starts overall and will be looking to shake the rust and a disappointing effort last time out in this one.
Citation Handicap 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
Data Link - finished a respectable third in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream on March 3 in his graded stakes debut went on to win the Makers 46 Mile in impressive fashion. Data Link won the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes in record time to follow a fifth in the Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs. He had another impressive result recently - a second in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap September 1 but followed that with a fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Shadwell at Keeneland October 6. He has won six of 14 career starts and has proven tough against top competition in the past.
Doubles Partner - Todd Pletcher trained Doubles Partner won the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes in March and followed that with an OK third in the Grade Maker's 46 Mile and a pair of fourths in his last two starts - in the Grade 1 Woodford Turf Classic in May and the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile last time out in front of Data Link at Keeneland October 6. He has won five of fifteen career starts but has failed to place in his last two.
Interaction - Former Argentinean Horse of the Year Interaction has yet to find the form that made him a star in his native land. He had a is win in an Allowance Optional Claiming here on June 16 and a decent second to Acclamation in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes on July 21 but had a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap August 25. He is coming off an OK third last time out in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf at Hollywood Park September 30 to breed a little optimism in his chances Friday.
Citation Handicap betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Calimonoco - This six-year-old has had mixed results in 2012 - a win in the minor Sidd Finch Stakes, a second in the Wickerr Stakes, a pair of fourths in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes and Grade 3 San Francisco Mile and a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 American Handicap. Last time out was an ugly eleventh in the Grade 3 Eddie Read September 28 to follow a fifth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap on August 26.
Tale of a Champion - has eight career starts with four wins but finished a distant sixth in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on August 26 and followed that with a fifth in the Grade 3 Eddie D September 28. Last time out was an eighth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
Temple's Door - had an Allowance Optional Claiming score August 5 - his first win in 15 months but followed that up with a seventh in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf September 30 and a third most recently in the minor Lure Stakes at Hollywood Park October 28.
