Speaking Scout won the 2022 edition of the Hollywood Derby. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.—For its penultimate day of sport for the 2023 season, Del Mar will offer a stakes tripleheader topped by the 83rd edition of the Grade I Hollywood Derby. The nine-furlong grass special that starts at the top of the track’s unique infield chute carries a purse of $300,000 and has drawn a field of nine sophomores headed by several eastern invaders.
The Derby will be Race 7 on the Saturday nine-race card that has a 12:30 first post. The main event has a post time of approximately 3:30 p.m.
Also on the day’s agenda is the 33rd running of the $100,000, Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes, which has lured a field of 11 2-year-old fillies for its mile on the turf. It goes as Race 5.
Starting the day’s stakes activities as Race 3 on the card is the second edition of the Storm Liberal Stakes, a five-panel lawn affair for 3-year-olds and up that has brought out eight runners for a go at its $100,000 purse.
The Hollywood Derby has been a popular landing spot for eastern-based trainers who do not have local Grade I grass opportunities during this time of year. One of those conditioners is the multiple-Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, who has sent out horses to capture the race three times in the past seven years and may have the horse to beat this time around with Klaravich Stables’ Program Trading (GB), a ridgling on the rise who has been tabbed as the 9/5 favorite in the morning line.
The son of the Irish stallion Lope de Vega has won three of his four outings, including a major score in the Saratoga Derby on August 9. He’s already banked more than a half million in purses and once again will have regular rider Flavien Prat in the boot.
The favorite in the Jimmy Durante is also a Brown-trained runner in CHP Racing’s Lady de Berry, a smart winner of a straight maiden affair at Keeneland on October 27 The daughter of Practical Joke also gets regular jockey Prat for her first try in stakes company.
Then in the Stormy Liberal local conditioner Richard Mandella will saddle the favorite in MyRacehorse’s Lane Way, who has been tabbed at 9/5 going into the dash following a stakes score in the Grade II Eddie D at Santa Anita last out. The 6-year-old gelding’s regular rider, Mike Smith, once again has the call.
Here are the full fields for the trio of stakes in post-position order with riders and morning line odds:
Hollywood Derby (GI)
1 Silver Knott (Jamie Spencer, 6-1)
2 Maltese Falcon (Juan Hernandez, 20-1)
3 Reiquist (Ramon Vazquez, 10-1)
4 Watsonville (Antonio Fresu, 12-1)
5 Webslinger (Tyler Gaffalione, 3-1)
6 Santorini (Alex Achard, 15-1)
7 Redistricting (Joel Rosario, 5-1)
8 Program Trading (Flavien Prat, 9/5)
9 Seal Team (Umberto Rispoli, 5-1)
Jimmy Durante Stakes (GIII)
1 Ms Brightside (Giovanni Franco, 12-1)
2 Antifona (Tiago Periera, 12-1)
3 Yatta (Rispoli, 6-1)
4 Circle of Trust (Rosario, 8-1)
5 She Is Romantic (Fresu, 15-1)
6 Mo Fox Givin (Hector Berrios, 6-1)
7 Blue Oasis (Vazquez, 15-1)
8 Go With Gusto (Gaffalione, 4-1)
9 Feisty Mitole (Kyle Frey, 20-1)
10 Zona Verde (Hernandez, 8-1)
Stormy Liberal Stakes
1 Unconquerable Keen (Prat, 4-1)
2 Turn On The Jets (Hernandez, 5/2)
3 Honey Pants (Fresu, 12-1)
4 Ah Jeez (Rosario, 10-1)
5 Daniel’s Magic (Gaffalione, 6-1)
6 See Through It (Franco, 12-1)
7 Johnny Podres (Frey, 12-1)
