Brahms boosted to win in Hollywood Derby after Designed for Luck disqualified

Hollywood park stewards spoiled trainer Vladimir Cerin's 46th birthday on November 26 when they disqualified Designed for Luck, a 58-to-1 longshot, from a stunning upset in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) for interference in the stretch and elevated favored Brahms to first.

Hollywood Derby (G1)
Hollywood Park, November 26, $500,000, 11/8 miles, turf, firm, 1:46.73
1-BRAHMS, c. 3, Danzig-Queena, by Mr. Prospector.
2-David Copperfield, c. 3, Halo-Bannockburn, by Count Brook.
3-Zentsov Street, c. 3, Nureyev-Storm Fear, by Coastal.

Kentucky invader Brahms, who finished a head back after rallying four-wide on the outside from sixth, scored his fourth straight victory during an unbeaten year for trainer Elliott Walden, who posted his first stakes victory in California the hard way.

Designed for Luck, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., was placed fifth for drifting out into the path of Zentsov Street and Walkslikeaduck at the sixteenth pole, forcing both to steady and slightly bother Brahms to their outside.

In a revised order of finish, 1.70-to-1 favorite Brahms was moved to first, early pacesetter David Copperfield to second, Zentsov Street to third, and Walkslikeaduck to fourth in the 12-horse field.

"It was bittersweet," said jockey Pat Day of the victory. "I felt some pressure on my inside near the sixteenth pole and lost some momentum that might have cost him the race."

Walden agreed. "It was unfortunate and I do feel sorry for Vladimir, but it looked like his horse jammed up the horses that were third and fourth. My horse was second to the line, but he ran a winning race."

Cerin, who won the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) with longshot Early Pioneer this summer, was not as lucky with Designed for Luck. "The decision was moronic and absolutely inexcusable," said a livid Cerin. "The best horse won. The favorite was second best and was not affected in any way."

Pincay added, "I switched to the left-handed whip and my horse came out a little bit, but I didn't hear anybody scream or anything. But I guess somebody got bothered."

Brahms, who was purchased privately in May in Ireland for Tom VanMeter II of Lexington, has emerged as one of the leading grass horses in the nation. "I felt he would have had a good shot in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), but I respect the decision why he didn't get in because he had only raced twice (this year) at that point," said Walden. "I think he could be the best older horse on turf next year, and we may try him on the dirt."

Brahms began his career in Ireland with trainer Aidan O'Brien last year and finished second in the 1999 Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-G1). He more than doubled his career earnings to $594,715 with the $300,000 Hollywood Derby first prize.

The son of Danzig out of 1991 champion mare Queena, by Mr. Prospector, sold for $1-million at the 1998 Keeneland July selected yearling sale.

Walden said Brahms would be shipped to Florida for a well-earned vacation before returning to the races next spring.

The Hollywood Derby time for 1 1/8 miles on a firm turf course was 1:46.73.

Matriarch redemption

Stonerside Stable racing manager John Adger spotted jockey Chris McCarron a few minutes after he guided Tout Charmant to a photo-finish victory in the $500,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares on November 26 and said with a smile, "The McNairs said you will definitely ride her first foal."

Matriarch S. (G1)
Hollywood Park, November 26, $500,000, 11/8 miles, turf, firm, 1:46.06
1-TOUT CHARMANT, f. 4, Slewvescent-Charm a Gendarme, by Batonnier.
2-Tranquility Lake, m. 5, Rahy-Winters' Love, by Danzig.
3-Happyanunoit (NZ), m. 5, =Yachtie (Aus)-=Easter Queen (Aus), by =Rajah (Aus).

Adger had just called owners Robert and Janice McNair in Houston with the good news after McCarron registered his record fifth Matriarch victory when Tout Charmant scored by a head over Tranquility Lake in 1:46.06 for 1 1/8 miles on grass. The four-year-old filly just missed the stakes record of 1:46 set by champion Flawlessly under McCarron in 1992. Defending Matriarch winner Happyanunoit (NZ) finished third, another 1 1/4 lengths back.

The Matriarch may not decide any Eclipse Awards this year, but Tout Charmant could solidify her claim to being the second-best grass filly or mare in the country behind Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) winner Perfect Sting, who defeated Tout Charmant by three-quarters of a length in that race on November 4.

More importantly, Tout Charmant demonstrated the improvement she has made since turning in one of the few poor peformances of her career with an eighth-place finish in the 1999 Matriarch, beating one horse.

"I think all the credit has to go to Ron McAnally and Chris," said Adger. Tout Charmant was turned over to trainer McAnally in February after the McNairs purchased her from owners-breeders Robert and Barbara Walter through bloodstock agent Dan Kenny.

With McAnally, Tout Charmant has been a model of consistency this year with three firsts, three seconds, and one third in seven starts for earnings of $1,089,044. "That's a Stonerside milestone," pointed out Adger. "She is the first horse we have owned outright to earn a million dollars in one year."

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Slewvescent out of the stakes-winning Batonnier mare Charm a Gendarme had always shown heart, but it was not until recent months that she had added the ability to negotiate more than nine furlongs-first with an upset victory over Perfect Sting in the WinStar Galaxy Stakes (G3) at Keeneland at 1 3/16 miles and then with a game second-place finish to Perfect Sting in the Filly and Mare Turf at 1 3/8 miles.

"I thought for a while that even a mile and an eighth might be too long until we ran her in that first race in Kentucky," said McAnally. "But I've been so pleased with her the last few months and am more confident every time I see her."

Co-favored at 2.70-to-1, Tout Charmant stalked the pace in third before challenging co-favorite Tranquility Lake for the lead around the far turn and outfinishing her after a sizzling stretch duel. Tout Charmant posted the second Grade 1 victory of her career after winning last year's Del Mar Oaks (G1) and raised her earnings to $1,576,704 with her seventh victory in 22 starts.

Happyanunoit, the 3.30-to-1 co-second choice, closed strongly on the rail from seventh, but jockey Corey Nakatani blamed himself for cutting inside instead of outside in the stretch, which would have given his mount more running room. "I should have zigged when I zagged," said Nakatani.

Charge in the Citation

Christophe Lorieul, assistant trainer to Christophe Clement, gave jockey Jose Santos only one instruction before giving him a leg up on Charge d'Affaires (GB) in the $500,000 Citation Handicap (G2) on November 25.

Citation H. (G2)
Hollywood Park, November 25, $500,000, 1 1/16 miles, turf, firm, 1:40.30
1-CHARGE D'AFFAIRES (GB), h. 5, =Kendor (Fr)-Lettre de Cachet, by Secreto.
2-Ladies Din, g. 5, Din's Dancer-Ladies Double, by Kris S.
3-Native Desert, g. 7, Desert Classic-Miss C. Native, by Princely Native.

"Just ride him like you did Chief Bearheart," said Lorieul, referring to Santos's victory at Hollywood Park aboard the eventual turf champion in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

Santos took the advice to heart. With a rousing ride, he urged the five-year-old New York invader to a 14.90-to-1 upset, nosing out Ladies Din with a time of 1:40.30 for 1 1/16 miles on firm turf.

Ladies Din, the tepid 2.70-1 favorite, had taken the lead at the eighth pole, only to be caught on the inside by Charge d'Affaires, who split foes from fourth.

Native Desert, the 1999 runner-up, rallied from last to finish third, another half-length back and three-quarters of a length in front of Super Quercus (Fr), the 4.20-to-1 third choice. Manndar (Ire), the 2.90-to-1 second choice, finished fifth, another head back.

Charge d'Affaires, who shipped to California ten days before the race and worked a half-mile on the grass on November 19, scored his sixth victory in 18 starts and raised his earnings to $797,017 for his French owner and breeder, La Marquise de Moratalla.

Winner of the 1997 Prix Morny (Fr-G1) at Deauville and second in three other French Group 1 stakes for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, Charge d'Affaires was sent to Clement after his three-year-old season. In his last start, he won the October 28 Knickerbocker Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct after a nine-month layoff following his victory in the 1999 Knickerbocker.

"To win the Knickerbocker twice and then ship and win here was a great performance," said Lorieul, anticipating that Charge d'Affaires's next start will be in the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G2) on December 17.

Julio Canani, trainer of Ladies Din, tried to console co-owner Bernie Schiappa after the narrow defeat. "That sonofagun runs his heart out every time," he said.

Another Miesque longshot

Agri-Harvest owner Louis Scattaglia relived a fond memory on November 24 when his French import, Fantastic Filly (Fr), rallied from tenth with a powerful stretch kick to post a shocking upset in the $200,000 Miesque Stakes (G3) for two-year-old fillies.

Miesque S. (G3)
Hollywood Park, November 24, $200,000, 1 mile, turf, firm, 1:35.11
1-FANTASTIC FILLY (FR), f. 2, Myrakalu (Fr)-=River Sans Retour (Fr), by Vacarme.
2-Smart Timing, f. 2, Miswaki-Sunrise Sonata, by Track Barron.
3-Eminent, f. 2, Apollo-What's for Supper, by Murrtheblurr.

In 1997, Scattaglia's Star's Proud Penny unleashed a similar late rally to win the Miesque under Garrett Gomez for trainer Bobby Frankel as the longest-priced winner in race history at odds of 33.50-1.

"This was my first stakes win since that race," said Scattaglia, a produce dealer from Little Rock, California, who campaigns a five-horse stable. "Same jockey. Same trainer. Bobby lined up the purchase of this filly from France just as he lined up the purchase of Star's Proud Penny from Florida."

Frankel's assistant trainer Humberto Ascanio said Fantastic Filly arrived here about a month ago after breaking her maiden in her fourth start at Saint-Cloud on October 4. Fantastic Filly would have made the champion French miler after whom the race was named proud with a six-wide move into the stretch and an explosive turn of foot. She won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:35.11 for one mile at 20.50-to-1 odds under Gomez.

Smart Timing finished second, a nose in front of pacesetter Eminent, who was a head in front of Skatesheba (Fr), another Frankel-trained French import.

Lucien, the 2.30-to-1 favorite in the field of 11, finished fifth, another length back and a neck in front of Langoureuse, Frankel's other French invader.

Euro Empire, winner of two California-bred stakes and runner-up in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1), was vanned off after finishing last. Trainer Marcelo Polanco reported that X rays revealed a hairline fracture of the filly's front right ankle.

Startac's Generous recovery

Startac had just recorded his first stakes victory in the $200,000 Generous Stakes (G3) for two-year-olds on November 25, and trainer Simon Bray was looking forward to next year.

Generous S. (G3)
Hollywood Park, November 25, $200,000, 1 mile, turf, firm, 1:34.76
1-STARTAC, c. 2, Theatrical (Ire)-Tenga, by Mr. Prospector.
2-Broadway Moon, c. 2, Theatrical (Ire)-Lunar Spook, by Silver Ghost.
3-Deeliteful Irving, c. 2, Afternoon Deelites-Irving's Girl, by Badger Land.

"He put a length between them in the last 50 yards and galloped out extremely strong," said Bray after the colt rallied from fifth under Alex Solis for a length victory over pacesetter Broadway Moon in 1:34.76 for one mile. New York invader Deeliteful Irving finished third, another length back and a length in front of English import Marine (GB), the 2.60-to-1 favorite.

Bray figures that Startac, a long-striding son of Theatrical (Ire), will benefit from added distance and is due for a vacation before returning to the grass next spring at Santa Anita Park. Owned by the Allen Paulson Living Trust, Startac scored his second victory in three starts at 8.50-to-1 odds in the field of nine.

"He is a big, stout two-year-old, and we have been very patient with him," said Bray. "He was very impressive winning his first race, and I attribute getting beat in his second race (third by three-quarters of a length) to greenness. Since then, I worked him behind horses and asked him to quicken by them."

Startac took some of the sting out of Lucien's defeat as the favorite in the Miesque Stakes the previous day. "It was one of the biggest disappointments of my career," said Bray. "She had every reason to win and just didn't get the job done."

McAnally, trainer of runner-up Broadway Moon, scratched High Tech Exec because of filling in one leg.

The El Cielo Express

Crowned "king of the hill" at Santa Anita, El Cielo proved he can sprint on the flat, too. The six-year-old gelding rallied to win the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express (G3) on November 24, edging East Coast invader Texas Glitter by a neck in 1:01.73 for 5 1/2 furlongs. Full Moon Madness finished third, another half-length back.

Hollywood Turf Express H. (G3)
Hollywood Park, November 24, $200,000, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf, firm, 1:01.73
1-EL CIELO, g. 6, El Prado (Ire)-Only Above, by Great Above.
2-Texas Glitter, c. 4, Glitterman-Come on Texas, by Apalachee.
3-Full Moon Madness, g. 5, Half a Year-Soft Charm, by Secretariat.

"I was a little concerned about the distance being a little too short," said trainer Craig Dollase. "But he swung out, came on strong, and ground it out." Ridden by Nakatani as the 2-to-1 favorite, El Cielo won for the tenth time in 15 starts and raised his earnings to $493,695.

The Florida-bred son of El Prado (Ire)came off a victory in the Morvich Handicap (G3) on November 6 at Santa Anita for his seventh victory in ten tries over the unique hillside course at about 6 1/2 furlongs.

"I like to give him a little more time between races, so coming back in 18 days was a question, too," said Dollase, who probably will not start the horse again until the Santa Anita meeting this winter.

Texas Glitter, who had won his last three starts sprinting on grass, was the first Hollywood starter for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"He ran his race and he ran hard," said Pletcher. "It's a shame the race could not have been five furlongs." Pletcher said he hoped the four-year-old colt would be invited to the Hong Kong Sprint on December 17.

FINISH LINE-On Thanksgiving day, Lazy Slusan won the $76,950 Cat's Cradle Handicap for California-bred fillies and mares, giving the five-year-old Slewvescent mare her third stakes victory in four starts since trainer and co-owner John Dolan claimed her for $62,500 in July.