Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park

Trainer Bob Baffert at Clockers Corner, Santa Anita, this morning.

Saturday's feature at Hollywood Park - the $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes - has some great history attached to it. It is named for Real Quiet, trained by Bob Baffert. In 1999, Real Quiet became the first Kentucky Derby champion since Ferdinand (1987) to win the Hollywood Gold Cup, Hollywood Park's premier race.

Real Quiet, owned by Mike Pegram, was nicknamed "the fish" by Baffert because of his narrow frame. As a two-year-old in 1997, Real Quiet won the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity.

In 1998, Real Quiet faced an impressive crop of three-year-olds, yet he came closer to winning the Triple Crown than any horse since Affirmed did 20 years earlier. After winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Real Quiet lost his bid for racing immortality in the Belmont, when beaten in the final strides by Victory Gallop. He nevertheless ended the year with an Eclipse Award for best three-year-old colt.

As a four-year-old in 1999, Real Quiet won the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Pimlico Special. Considered to be a strong contender in the Breeders' Cup Classic that year, Real Quiet instead suffered an injury, forcing his retirement.

Real Quiet's progeny include Pussycat Doll, No Place Like It, Wonder Lady Ann L, and Midnight Lute.

Here's the field for the $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes, for 2-year-olds, at 1-1/16 miles on the Cushion Track.

1 Mark S the Cooler (Michael Baze)
2 When We Met (Mike Smith)
3 J P Jammer (Aaron Gryder)
4 Chocolate Candy (Garrett Gomez)
5 Danny Q (Martin Pedroza)
6 Escalon (Rafael Bejarano)
7 Charlie's Moment (Joel Rosario)