by Mike Curry

Champs Elysees (GB) surged into contention from between horses and powered to his second Grade 1 win of the year with a half-length score in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

A Juddmonte Farms homebred, the five-year-old Danehill horse is a full brother to champions Intercontinental (GB) and Banks Hill (GB) as well as multiple Grade 1 winner Cacique (Ire) and Group 2 winner and sire Dansili (GB). Out of stakes winner Hasili (Ire), by Kahyasi, Champs Elysees also is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Heat Haze (GB), but until this year his race record did not match with his outstanding pedigree.

A Group 3 winner in France, Champs Elysees finished second in the 2007 Hollywood Turf Cup in his North American debut. He won the San Marcos Stakes (G2) on January 19 to begin the season and, on September 7, Champs Elysees became the fifth Grade 1 winner produced by 2006 Broodmare of the Year Hasili when he held off Quijano to win the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by Vtech (Can-G1) at Woodbine.

With the Hollywood Turf Cup win, Champs Elysees has finished on the board in 16 of 21 career starts and earned $1,354,761.

“I think he will stay in training next year but I’m not sure,” said winning trainer Bobby Frankel, who picked up his record fourth win in the Hollywood Turf Cup.  “He was really going into this race really well. I told [jockey] Jose [Valdivia Jr.] to try and make him break good, but don’t worry about rushing him or anything.”

Mr. Chairman set the pace in the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup through fractions of :25.05, :49.96, and 1:15.72 through six furlongs. Grade 1 winner Winchester stalked from just behind the pacesetter while Valdivia  reserved Champs Elysees in sixth in the eight-horse field.

Champs Elysees moved up from the inside on the final turn and uncoiled an explosive closing kick from between horses entering the stretch. He drove to the lead and had plenty of stamina in reserve to hold off Grade 2 winner Obrigado (Fr).

"I got the call yesterday morning from my agent that I was going to ride this horse. I was working a horse here at Hollywood and before that Bobby [Frankel] had said it would probably be between me and Flores,” Valdivia said. “How many times do you get to pick up a horse that's 9-to-5 in a Grade 1? This is a very special animal. I think he's just been a little hard luck.

“Even though this was my first time riding him, I worked him many times in the morning and watched him win a couple of times. So I know the class that he has. I got to save ground all the way around. I felt like Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby (G1)."

Church Service, who entered off a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon on October 25 at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park, finished another three-quarters of a length back in third followed by Grade 1-winning five-year-old mare Black Mamba (NZ). Winchester faded to finish sixth as the 2.10-to-1 second choice.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor