Affirmed Handicap 2013 at Hollywood Park
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap comes our way this Sunday, June 2 from Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. A purse of $100,000 will be on the line for three year olds willing to go 1 1/16 miles in Hollywood Park's main track.
The Affirmed Handicap has attracted a field of eight three year olds for race 8 on Hollywood Park's Sunday card. Post time is 4:35 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all eight combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.
2013 Affirmed Handicap Race Favorites
Den's Legacy - Bob Baffert trained colt was second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview Stakes November 3. He followed that with an impressive win in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes on turf November 24. He had a decent third in the CashCall Futurity in his last start on this track behind Violence and Fury Kapcori December 15, a nice second in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on dirt January 5 and followed that with a second in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis February 2. He was thought to be on the Triple Crown trail this year then had a third in the Grade 3 Rebel Stakes March 16 at Oaklawn Park with a sixth last time out in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 13. Trainer Bob Baffert decided not to run him in the Kentucky Derby. Den's Legacy has placed in seven of his last eight starts with four seconds against some of the best three year olds in the land! We'll see if Mr. Baffert's choice to keep Den's Legacy out of the Triple Crown races pays off.
Manando - Bob Baffert entry has eight career starts with two wins both coming on this track - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out by 7 1/4 lengths at this distance and a MSW in December. He's also had a second which came two back in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita in March and four fourth place finishes. His graded stakes results were a good third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita January 5 with a Beyer Speed Figure of 91 and a disappointing ninth in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate in February. He has placed in seven of eight career starts but has yet to break through against top competition.
Affirmed Handicap 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Dice Flavor - Patrick Gallagher trained colt made his stakes debut with an upset win in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at 9-1 odds at Golden Gate February 16 after a win and two third place finishes in four career starts. He broke maiden at Hollywood Park in December and had a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita February 1 as well. Last time out was an unsuccessful trip to Dubai - an eighth place finish in the Grade 2 U.A.E Derby March 30. He has yet to race on the cushion track although he does have a win here on turf.
Tiz a Minister - has 12 career starts already with two wins, four seconds and three third place finishes. He is coming off a third place finish as 11-10 favorite in the minor Snow Chief Stakes here April 27 after an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, a very good third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes behind Hear The Ghost and Flashback and a nice win in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes - his best ever result. He has placed in four of five starts this year but has yet to get it done on the big stage.
Affirmed Handicap betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Counting Days - broke maiden November 20 by 10 1/4 lengths in his third career start and followed that with a seventh in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes November 24 and a fifth in an Allowance race at Santa Anita December 28. This year he has three starts and three third place finishes for trainer Carla Gaines - in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby in February, in the minor Pasadena Stakes March 29 and last time out in the minor La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita April 21. He has been knocking on the door but has just one win in eight career starts.
Broadway Empire - has just two career starts for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Last time out was an OK second in the minor Came Home Stakes on this track May 11 after a Maiden Optional Claiming score by an impressive 16 1/2 lengths in his debut at Turf Paradise March 18.
Just Win Baby - has just four career starts for trainer Oscar Garcia but is coming off a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming in a race that Manando dominated here May 3 after a distant ninth in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby March 24. He had a MSW score at Santa Anita February 28 in a race he earned a decent 85 Beyer Speed Figure and his other career result was a sixth in a MSW also at Santa Anita February 16.
Dirty Swagg - half-brother of Love Theway Youare has 10 career starts with just one win (seven back at Del Mar) and a third place finish - that coming in the Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park in November. Dirty Swagg was fifth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita January 5 after a seventh in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity and since has raced to a pair of eighths - last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming in that race with Manando and at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 6. Dirty Swagg has yet to finish better than fifth in five previous appearances in graded stakes.
