Horse Racing News

Runner-up as the favorite in the Hollywood Derby, Grandeur (Ire) will try to become the first 3-year-old since Bien Bien in 1992 to win the Hollywood Turf Cup Dec. 15 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

He's Had Enough, who missed by a head winning the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile last month, and Nashua Stakes victor Violence square off against a quartet from the Bob Baffert barn in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity Dec. 12 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

A new state-controlled board of directors at the New York Racing Association held its first meeting Dec. 12, bringing the long-embattled racetrack operator to a new and uncertain place in its history that dates back to 1955.

Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, is on track to make his 2013 debut in the Feb. 9 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap after an easy Dec. 11 half-mile work at Palm Meadows Training Center.

A smashing winner in her much anticipated debut last month, Eblouissante, a half sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, will make her second start Dec. 15 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Pure Fun, the lone shipper in this year's Hollywood Starlet Stakes, turned in an electric performance in rallying from last at the quarter pole to win by one length Dec. 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Lady of Fifty provided some early shenanigans in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Bayakoa at Hollywood Park but came running in the stretch to be 3 1/4 lengths the best under jockey Martin Garcia.

Class Included, overmatched when seventh at 38-1 in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic last month, should get some class relief in the $200,000 Bayakoa Handicap Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association Dec. 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

With a victory in the $500,000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes Dec. 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park, Executiveprivilege could set off quite a debate for the Eclipse Award in the juvenile filly division.

After finishing second to Groupie Doll in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in November, Dust and Diamonds looms as a prohibitive favorite in the $100,000 Adena Springs Sugar Swirl Dec. 8 at Gulfstream Park.