So Brilliant gallops at Santa Anita for Bob Baffert

So Brilliant, winner of the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park, gets out for some morning exercise at Santa Anita.

One of trainer Bob Baffert’s more promising two-year-olds, So Brilliant was making only his second career start in the Hollywood Prevue after winning in his racing debut at Santa Anita on Oct. 22. The gray son of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Wekiva Springs mare Merry Me in Spring is owned by Arnold Zetcher, who has indicated that So Brilliant is likely headed for the Grade 1, $750,000 Cash Call Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 17.

Jack O'Lantern Upsets in Hollywood Prevue, Gives Trainer Richard Matlow his First Graded Stakes Victory

Edited Hollywood Park report
Jack o' Lantern, given a perfect trip by Isaias Enriquez, found room along the rail in the stretch and took charge nearing the sixteenth pole en route to a $41.80 upset in Sunday's $103,700 Hollywood Prevue at Hollywood Park.

Favorite Azul Leon finished a half-length back in second in the Grade III event - a major stepping-stone to the CashCall Futurity here Dec. 20. Ventana and Arashi Cat were another half-length back in a dead heat for third while second choice Backbackbackgone finished fifth and Congor Bay sixth.

The victory was the first in a graded stakes for 66-year-old trainer Richard Matlow, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease earlier this year. He saddled Heptathlon to win the $74,090 Safely Kept here in 1998 and Half Mamoon to win the $175,000 Cal Cup Mile at Santa Anita in 1996.

"I was diagnosed about seven months ago - I was misdiagnosed for about a year," Matlow said. "I've got a bad foot and my hands are not good, but other than that, I'm not bad. I still come to the barn every day. This is probably one of my biggest wins, first graded stakes. I had placed before."

Jack o' Lantern paid $41.80, $12 and $5.80. Azul Leon returned $3.20 and $2.60, while the show payoff on Arashi Cat was $3.

Mike Smith to Ride Ventana in Hollywood Prevue Stakes

Mike Smith preparing to work Ventana on Santa Anita's main track Wednesday morning.

Trainer Bob Baffert has named Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith on Ventana for Sunday's Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes for 2-year-olds going 7 furlongs. Smith won the 2003 Prevue on Lion Heart. Baffert has won a record four runnings of the stakes, including last year with Massive Drama.

Ventana is by Toccet, winner of the 2002 CashCall Futurity. The colt was a $410,000 purchase at the Barretts March Sale for co-owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.