Post-Race Review
The Inglewood Handicap ended up quite chalky at worst but thrilling at best, as narrow 2 – 1 favorite Madeo ran down second and third choices Storm Military (ARG) and US Ranger to the wire, winning by a head. Although Storm Military led the field through slow fractions while Madeo sat back in fifth and was forced wide, jockey Mike Smith angled the son of Mizzen Mast out and got up in time for the win.
Madeo, trained by John Shirreffs, paid $6.60 to win, topping a $12.00 exacta and a $32.90 trifecta. Madeo won the Del Mar Derby (gr. II) last summer and is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, who also campaign the great mare Zenyatta.
Pre-Race Analysis
Hollywood Park’s opening weekend concludes with the $100,000 Inglewood Handicap, a 1 1/16 mile grade III on the turf. With the scratch of Mr. Napper Tandy, who was the CASE choice for this race, eight horses will go to the post.
Storm Military (ARG) is drawing a lot of attention and could be sent off as the favorite, since the seven-year-old gelding is the lone speed in a race full of stalkers and closers. With a 99.80 CASE rating and at 5/2 on the morning line, Storm Military shouldn’t be dismissed, but he hasn’t run since August 24th at Del mar and hasn’t won since November of 2007.
US Ranger finished sixth in a listed stakes race on march 21st going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf, but was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) in his United States debut. Neil Drysdale now trains the five-year-old son of Danzig who has won five of seventeen starts and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez.
Madeo is a four-year-old son of Mizzen Mast and will be well supported with a CASE rating of 98.87. After winning a one mile allowance race in March, Madeo was third in the Arcadia Handicap for trainer John Shirreffs and regular jockey Mike Smith. Last summer at Del Mar, Madeo won the Del Mar Derby (gr. II).
Medjool inherits the role as the highest CASE rated horse with a 99.92 and was third last out in the Tokyo City Handicap on March 28th, beaten just over two lengths. In November, Medjool won on the Hollywood Park All Weather surface, and this will be the first turf start for the son of Monarchos.
$1.2 million is how much Awesome Gem has earned. The classy six-year-old gelding by Awesome Again is making his 2009 debut after running 12th in the Hong Kong Mile (gr. I) in December. Craig Dollase trains this multiple Grade 1 placed runner and Tyler Baze will ride.
The other runners include the rich racehorse Becrux (ITY), recent optional claimer winner Silent Soul, and Worldly (GB), who loves the Hollywood Park turf course.
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Emily Shields is a regular contributor to Case the Race. She has written for California Thoroughbred, Churchill Downs media, and international racing magazines.
