DRYSDALE HAS 'EM ALL LINED UP; TURF FESTIVAL BRINGS OUT THE TRAINER'S BEST.Byline: Debbie Arrington This is Neil Drysdale's kind of weekend. The trainer has a barn full of stakes horses, many who would rather run on grass than dirt. And Hollywood Park Hollywood Park may be several places:
And the Drysdale barn continues on a roll, racking up more Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, stakes victories than any other trainer this year. He's got 26 and counting. ``I guess it's just our turn,'' said the soft-spoken Brit. ``It all depends on the horses. If you don't have them, you can't win the big races. We've just got a stable full of good ones this year.'' Many of those stakes victories have come with jockey Kent Desormeaux Kent J. Desormeaux (born February 27, 1970, in Maurice, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana) is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year. aboard. ``When he gets in this zone, it gives me so much confidence,'' said Desormeaux of Drysdale. ``I feel like I'm going to win with anything he puts me on.'' Unfortunately, probably the best horse in the Drysdale barn right now will miss the Turf Festival. Fiji, the nation's top turf mare, will miss Sunday's $700,000 Matriarch due to a cough. ``We can't take any chances, especially since she's going to remain in training and run next year,'' Drysdale said. Fiji's ultimate goal will be the new Breeders' Cup turf The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. The race's current title sponsor is John Deere. race for fillies and mares next November in Florida. Instead of Fiji, Drysdale will send Diamond on the Run in the 1-1/4-mile Matriarch for fillies and mares. Drysdale was impressed by the 3-year-old filly's run to finish second after a disastrous start in last month's Ramser Handicap at Santa Anita Santa Anita may refer to:
``It was a remarkable run,'' he said. ``Kent (Desormeaux) said her knees buckled and he was worried she'd hurt herself. She was trailing by 20 lengths. ``I really like her chances in the Matriarch. She's a long, gangly gan·gly adj. gan·gli·er, gan·gli·est Gangling. [Alteration of gangling.] Adj. 1. filly, and she obviously wants to run long. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if she's this good, but she has some quality.'' Drysdale will have top starters in three other Turf events: Dr Fong in Sunday's Hollywood Derby The Hollywood Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses on the turf run each year in December at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. , Hawksley Hill in Saturday's Citation Handicap and Bodyguard in today's Turf Express. Also included in the Turf Festival are two juvenile stakes: today's Miesque Stakes for fillies and Saturday's Generous Stakes for colts and geldings.Hawksley Hill comes off a heart-breaking loss in the Breeders' Cup Mile to Da Hoss. ``This is his 10th race this year,'' said Drysdale. ``He's been busy. He came out of the Breeders' Cup better than he went in. He keeps surprising me. After Saturday, he'll get a little rest.'' In the Hollywood Derby, Dr Fong will square off again with rival Ladies Din, who narrowly defeated him in the Oak Tree Derby The Oak Tree Derby is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park during the Oak Tree Racing Association meet each year. The Grade IIT event is open to three-year-old horses willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf and offers a purse of $150,000. . ``He came over from England with a strong reputation,'' said Drysdale of his 3-year-old colt. ``When he ran the other day, he wasn't really a fit horse. He'll do much better Sunday.'' Bodyguard was a late-running sprinter in England, and Friday he'll be back at a shorter distance in the 5-1/2-furlong Express. ``We had stretched him out around two turns,'' explained the trainer. ``But this race came up fairly light, so we decided to back him up to sprint again. Hopefully, he won't be too confused.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: DRYSDALE |
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