Sunset Handicap 2013 at Hollywood Park
Las Vegas, NV - Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California will play host to the Grade 3 Sunset Handicap this Saturday, July 13. Horses three years old and upward will take to Hollywood Park's turf track and go 1 1/2 miles in search of the winner's share of the $100,000 purse.
The Sunset Handicap has attracted a small but quality group of six for race 5 on Hollywood Park's Sunday schedule. Post time is 3:04 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all six combatants for the last Grade 3 stakes on the last day of racing in Hollywood Park's spring/summer meet.
2013 Sunset Handicap Race Favorites
Marketing Mix - has won seven of her last 11 starts since switching to turf and four of seven in 2012 with two seconds - she has alternated wins and seconds in her last five starts overall with a win coming last time out over Tiz Flirtatious in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes here May 27. She had a good second two back in her last race of 2012 in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf to follow an easy win in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes and a second in the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington August 18. She has been worse than second just once in her last 12 starts and is arguably the most consistent of the Sunset Handicap entries - eight wins and three seconds in 12 starts on turf. Legendary Gary Stevens will get the mount on perhaps the best turf mare in the country. She looks to become only the third female to win this race.
Dhaamer - entered the Tokyo City Cup after a nearly seven month layoff and finished a disappointing sixth March 23 and followed that with a win in his only other start of 2013 - the minor Round Table Stakes here May 12. Before the layoff was a good second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap behind Casino Host in August and a two race win streak - the Round Table Stakes on May 13 by four and a half lengths and an impressive win in the 2012 Sunset Handicap in July. He is the defending champion in this race and could reasonably repeat based on his score last time out. After all, he is 3-for-3 on Hollywood turf. He starts from the rail with Julien Leparoux aboard.
Sunset Handicap 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Hawk's Eyes - Brazilian bred colt makes his North American debut Sunday after 10 starts at home produced four wins including two Group 1 races and two second place finishes. He failed to place in his last two starts at Cidade Jarim after winning four of five on that same track between May and September of 2012.
Why Not Be Perfect - is a veteran of 45 career starts but has just eight wins, four seconds and nine third place finishes. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday but has started six straight minor stakes races with three wins. Last time out was a fourth in the Budweiser Handicap after a third in the Governor's Handicap - both results at Emerald Downs. Before that was a pair of wins at Turf Paradise. His last race on this track resulted in a win November 10 in an Allowance at 44-1 odds.
Sunset Handicap betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Extensive - was out of racing for 21 months after an OK third in the 2011 Grade 3 Del Mar Derby but returned in May and has raced two Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track for trainer Vladimir Cerin. Last time out was a fifth June 22 after a fifth May 25. He has 11 career starts with three wins, a second and five third place finishes - his only off-the-board finishes coming his last two starts.
Only the Gold - has 14 career starts for trainer Vann Belvoir with just two wins and two third place finishes. He has yet to race in stakes company but did score a win in his last start on this track in May - a Claiming race back in May.
