American Handicap 2013 at Hollywood Park
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 American Handicap comes our way from Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California this Saturday, May 25. A purse of $150,000 will be on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to go one mile on Hollywood Park's turf track.
A field of six will line up in the American Handicap - race 3 on Hollywood Park's Saturday schedule. Post time is 2:01 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all six combatants for this Grade 2 stakes.
2013 American Handicap Race Favorites
Obviously - had nine starts in 2012 with four wins, three seconds and two third place finishes with three straight wins last summer and fall including the Grade 2 Arroyo Seco Mile October 6 and the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile before that. He ended her 2012 campaign with a decent third behind Wise Dan and Animal Kingdom in the Breeders' Cup Mile in November and then took 4 1/2 months off. He returned April 20 to a good second as 11-10 favorite in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes ahead of Drill at Santa Anita. He looks for her first win of 2013 and his first win at Hollywood Park (although he has two seconds and a third here) at his desired distance Saturday.
Chosen Miracle - Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has raced four times in 2013 with a win in an Allowance Optional Claiming March 28 and a pair of third place finishes to show for it. Last time out was a third in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes right behind Obviously at Santa Anita April 20 and he also had a third in the Grade 2 San Gabriel January 13. Sandwiched in there is a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes February 2 at Santa Anita. He has five wins, three seconds and three third place finishes and has two wins to go along with two thirds in his last five starts overall. He is 1-for-1 over the Betfair Hollywood Park grass, winning an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles last Dec. 8.
American Handicap 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Lucayan - French bred colt and Group 1 winner in her native land makes his North American debut Saturday after eight starts in France produces three wins and two second place finishes including a win at 27-1 odds in the French 2000 Guineas May 13, 2012 at Longchamp. He has failed to place in his last three however - a ninth, a fifth and an eighth respectively before his move. Trainer Neil Drysdale has won this race three times and will be aiming for a fourth Saturday.
Barocci - Japanese bred Barocci started his career overseas and appeared in four Allowance races in North America with a win and a second being his best results before debuting in graded stakes company - a race that resulted in a seven in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes in October. In two starts since Barocci has a fourth in the minor Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita April 6 and a win last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming here April 28.
American Handicap betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Drill - Bob Baffert trained colt Drill first burst onto the scene by winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in September 2011. It wasn`t until five months later that Drill reemerged with an impressive win against American Act in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes last February 19. Since the San Vicente win he has been OK- a second in the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn in April and a win in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera at Hollywood Park way back in May was followed by a nearly seven month layoff. Since his return Drill had a fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu December 26, a sixth in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes January 19 and a pair of fourths - in the Grade 2 San Carlos and the Grade 3 San Simeon April 20. He hasn't placed in over a year (just four starts) but he has been knocking on the door - Drill makes just his second start on turf Saturday.
Racing Aptitude - Bob Baffert trained gelding has been victim of some long layoffs the past couple of years - he had a win in the Yo Eleven Stakes here in November 2011 and then was forced out of action for over a year. He returned to a fifth in the Grade 1 Malibu then took six months off. Since then he has raced three Allowance Optional Claiming races - the last coming in August - a win at Del Mar. He' pretty difficult to figure out as he is off the track as much as he is on it!
