Well Monied Romps in Honeymoon Handicap

Well Monied liked both the turf and the extra distance, cruising home to win the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park for trainer Howard Zucker and owner C. T. Grether Inc. In her come-from-behind style, Well Monied came around the far turn three wide, then held off a surging Acting Lady in the stretch to prevail by a length and a quarter.

The victory establishes her as a leading candidate for the $700,000 American Oaks, an invitational event on July 5 at Hollywood Park.

A very patient ride by jockey Joel Rosario gave him his third win on the Sunday card, placing him atop the jockey standings for the meet with 39 wins in 27 race days. Congratulations to the connections of Well Monied!

The video is courtesy of Hollywood Park, which does an excellent job of posting videos of the feature race on their newly revamped website. Enjoy!

Well Monied Seeks First Stakes Victory in Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap

I’ve been following this lovely-moving daughter of Maria’s Mon since January, when she worked at Santa Anita with Chantal Sutherland up, noting that she would be one to watch, particularly going long on turf.

In tomorrow’s Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park, Well Monied will be looking for her third consecutive turf victory and first stakes win, while stretching out to a mile and an eighth. In her most recent race May 2, at a mile on the Hollywood Park turf course, she won by almost two lengths and received a 108 Beyer.

Trainer Howard Zucker, who is not concerned with her outside post position at the distance, said he loves her chances. “Her last was so impressive,” he added. “Everyone seems to like her.” Joel Rosario, who guided her to her last two victories, has the mount again.

The Honeymoon Handicap is a steppingstone to the July 5th American Oaks, a $700,000, Grade I invitational event at 1 ¼ miles.

The field includes Century Park (Victor Espinoza up), Daylumney (Tyler Baze), Candilejas (Martin Garcia), Lexlenos (Alex Solis), Dash Dot Dash (Brice Blanc), Maid For Music (David Flores), Pride Dancer (Joe Talamo), and Acting Lady (Rafael Bejarano).

The Honeymoon will run as the seventh race on a nine-race program. First post time is at 1 p.m.

Magical Fantasy, Black Mamba Renew Rivalry in Gamely Stakes

Black Mamba

Magical Fantasy and Black Mamba, who ran first and second in last month's Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita, will square off again this Saturday at Hollywood Park in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes.

Trained by John Sadler for Doubledown Stables Inc., Black Mamba, a New Zealand bred daughter of Black Minnaloushe, won the Grade 1 John C. Mabee and Grade 2 Beverly Hills handicaps last year before finishing 4th to males in the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup in December.

Magical Fantasy, the 2008 Del Mar Oaks winner, has won three of 13 races and $452,431 for trainer Paddy Gallagher and owners Bienstock, Mandabach and Winner.

The field also includes Toque de Queda, third-place finisher in the Santa Barbara, and Diamond Diva, winner of the 2008 CashCall Mile.

The Grade I Gamely is named for the nation's champion mare of 1968, winner of that year's Vanity Handicap as well as the 1968 and 1969 runnings of the Wilshire Handicap, the 1968 Inglewood Handicap, and the 1967 Princess Stakes. It will be run at nine furlongs on the Lakeside Turf Course — the ninth of ten races on Saturday’s card at Holylwood Park. First post time is 1 p.m.