Hollywood Hills © Benoit Photo
Northern California invader Hollywood Hills, piloted by Flavien Prat, rallied in the stretch to nose out prohibitive favorite Sneaking Out in the final stride to win the featured $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred three-year-old fillies Thursday.
Send postward at 8-1 for owner George Krikorian and trainer Steve Sherman, Hollywood Hills responded generously to Prat’s encouragement in the stretch to upset the 1-9 betting choice, Sneaking Out, who was piloted by Drayden Van Dyke. A distant third, nine and one-half lengths farther back, was Ruby Bradley, with Tiz a Master fourth in the field of five fillies. Takethediamondlane and Opus Won were scratched.
Hollywood Hills, a daughter of Hoorayforhollywood bred by the owner, accomplished seven furlongs in 1:24.96 and paid $19.40, $3.40 and $2.40 while earning first money of $85,500 with her first success in a stakes race. Over-all, it was the filly’s sixth victory in 11 starts.
Runner-up Sneaking Out returned $2.10 and $2.10, while Ruby Bradley paid $2.60 show.
Sherman, normally based at Golden Gate Fields but with a ten-horse stable at Del Mar this summer, also sent out Calle Kingpin at $10 to win the fifth race under jockey Abel Cedillo.
Hollywood Hills also provided Prat with his second stakes win of the new Del Mar meet, having taken the Oceanside Stakes aboard Jasikan Wednesday.
Friday’s program starting at 4 p.m. will feature a carryover in the Pick Six of $31,905.
FLAVIEN PRAT (Hollywood Hills, winner) – “The first time I rode the horse and they said just get her comfortable and make one run. At the top of the stretch I didn’t think I was going to get there; I thought I’d be second. But she kept on coming and she got there. So far I’m riding the right horses.”
DRAYDEN VAN DYKE (Sneaking Out, second) – “She ran hard all the way. She just got a little tired at the end. She gave it a good effort.”
AARON GRYDER (Ruby Bradley, third) – “She tried hard. It was a good effort for her.”
STEVE SHERMAN (Hollywood Hills, winner) – “It feels good to come down here and win a few races. It’s not easy. I brought down 10 horses (from Golden Gate Fields) that I thought were going to be competitive. She ran through her conditions up north and there wasn’t anything there for her at all. I thought she’s a good closing sprinter so why not take a shot. ”
FRACTIONS: :22.41 :45.33 1:11.33 1:24.96
The stakes win was the second of the meet for rider Prat, but his first in the Fleet Treat. He now has 35 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Sherman and his first in the Fleet Treat. He now has two stakes wins at Del Mar. (The other being the Real Good Deal Stakes in 2010 with Goggles McCoy).
The winning owner (and breeder) is George Krikorian of Torrance, CA.