The Green Sheet will focus its spot-play attention on a trio of stakes races this weekend—the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) from Del Mar and the $50,000 Holiday Inaugural from Turfway Park on Saturday, December 3 and the $300,000 Matriarch (G1) from Del Mar on Sunday, December 4.
The 75th renewal of the Hollywood Derby (G1), a nine-furlong affair going a mile and an eighth on the turf, drew a full field of 12 three-year-old colts and geldings headlined by the three-pronged, uncoupled entry of Beach Patrol, Camelot Kitten and Annals of Time from the East Coast-based Chad Brown barn. The West Coast contingency is represented by a strong hand in the race as well, with graded stakes winners Frank Conversation and Free Rose being the standouts.
The Holiday Inaugural, for fillies and mares three-years-old and upward, is the traditional opening weekend stakes for Turfway Park’s Holiday Meet, which kicked-off on Wednesday, November 30 at the Florence, Ky. oval.
The six-furlong sprint, which will be run over the synthetic Polytrack surface, drew a full field of 12, including a pair of also-eligibles. Primary contenders are synthetic specialists Marquee Cal Gal and Touch and Smile, in addition to the turf sprinters Touch of Bling and Melaleuca.
Post time for the Hollywood Derby (G1), the seventh race on the card at Del Mar on Saturday is 6:30 P.M. (Eastern) and the Holiday Inaugural, the sixth race on Turfway’s Saturday evening program will go off at 8:40 P.M. (Eastern).
For The Green Sheet‘s analysis and selections for this week’s spot plays, click HERE.