Hollywood Derby (Grade 1)

THERE were two Grade 1s on turf at Del Mar last weekend, but no European interest, either on the racing or breeding side.

The Grade 1 Hollywood Derby went to Formidable Man, a son of City Of Light, trained by Michael McCarthy for William and Suzanne Warren, who had also raced his sire.

It proved an emotional win for the trainer, as McCarthy paid tribute to his friend, trainer Ben Cecil, who died a day prior.

Cecil, nephew of Sir Henry Cecil, died aged 56 following a battle with cancer. Cecil moved to the US in the early 1990s and took on his own stable in 1996.

Based in southern California, Cecil trained 325 winners and earned almost $24 million in prize money.

Eclipse Award winner Golden Apples, who won the Del Mar Oaks among three Grade 1 successes, was his best horse.

“I worked for him for a while, before I went to work for Todd (Pletcher),” McCarthy said. “Good man, good father, good trainer. He loved life. He was a very good guy. Tough day.” McCarthy was quoted by Blood Horse.

Formidable Man has won his four outings at Del Mar, having won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in September.

The fourth choice in the 11-horse field under jockey Umberto Rispoli, Formidable Man raced in fourth along the rail in the nine-furlong Hollywood Derby, as Rothschild and Donegal Momentum set the early pace.

Rispoli moved Formidable Man off the rail to the outside of Donegal Momentum and went on to score by three-quarters of a length.

King Of Gosford closed late to shade Donegal Momentum by a neck. The favourite Carson’s Run finished fifth.

Rispoli said: “I knew there was quality and potential there, and he proved that to me today.”

“He always looked like he was threatening to run a big one,” McCarthy added. “I’m so happy that Mr Warren and his friends and family are here to celebrate a day like this.” McCarthy bought the colt at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $375,000.

Matriarch Stakes (Grade 1)

THE Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares over a mile threw up a surprise, with the favourite Gina Romantica going down by a neck to the George Weaver-trained Sacred Wish under John Velazquez.

The winner, a four-year-old daughter of Not This Time, foiled a five in a row for Chad Brown’s barn.

The four-year-old Sacred Wish was getting the first graded win of her career.

Velazquez raced in third behind leader Ag Bullet before moving Sacred Wish outside of Ag Bullet to take it up and then hold off a late rally by Gina Romantica on her outside by a neck.

AT Churchill Downs on Friday week, the Grade 2 Clark Stakes, now demoted from a Grade 1, over nine furlongs went to Kenny McPeek’s Rattle N Roll, beating two three-year-olds in Most Wanted and Uno Mas Bourbon.

Rattle N Roll rallied four-wide to seize the lead in the stretch and gamely held off Most Wanted’s late challenge to land a three-quarter-length victory. The win took Rattle N Roll to over $2 million in prize money.

It sealed a great season at the Churchill Downs track for McPeek and Brian Hernandez, also teaming up with this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and top three-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna.

“It’s been a dream year here at Churchill. This is such a historic race, like the Derby and Oaks, and very special to be able to sweep them this year,” McPeek said.

Brian Hernandez also said of his winner: “He was able to give us a perfect trip by naturally getting in a really good position early and finished the job late. He’s such a talented horse to do what he’s done over the years and just a special individual.” Rattle N Roll will be considered for the Pegasus World Cup on January 25th at Gulfstream Park and a possible trip to Saudi.