By Donald Harris

This article also appears in Bullet Points a regular column by Donald Harris.

FINAL PREPS FOR THE BIG DAY - HOLLYWOOD PARK DRILLS from Friday October 30
Monzante: Just what the doctor ordered for this Mitchell gray. Went off in a very relaxed tempo from the six pole. Basically galloping through the first three furlongs in 40.40. Then began to unfold his stride. Rider gave him a couple of taps on the shoulder in the stretch and he responded like a pro should - 52.20, 1:16.80 (wire time), running out to the bottom in the official clocking of 1:28.80. Then, like the good Mitchell runners do, he re-broke on the gallop out - 1:41.00, 1:53.60. Everything went right today. Settled beautifully. Accelerated on cue. The internal fractions could be read, 1:01.20, 1:13.40, 1:26.00.

Proviso: 24.80, 49.00, out 1:01.40 - Much more comfortable today than last week. Progressive half mile. Traveling well in hand. Could have gone much faster.

Ventura: The champ looked fantastic. Rider took her out very slow - 13.00, 25.40 - for the opening quarter. Then, when given an inch of rein to work with, she came the last three furlongs in 34.80 to stop my watch in 1:00.20. This rally was done without a hint of ask. Galloped out in 1:12.60. As flashy as you will see in the a.m.

Visit: Only caught the final furlong of this drill. On the wrong lead per usual. Rider had her under a managed rein.

Life is Sweet: Broke about three off maiden allowance type Poet Laureate. Opening three furlongs for her in 34.60. She was less than a length off work-mate by the quarter pole. Cruised by in the lane to finish best by a couple of lengths. Final five furlongs in 58.80. There is nothing she did today that I have not seen before. Status quo. The most interesting part of this drill was the energetic gallop out of the maiden Poet Laureate. Laureate actually ran by Sweet on the gallop out. Seven panels in 1:26.00.

Awesome Gem: Took him five furlongs in 36.20, 1:00.00. True grinder never wows in the a.m. Had company join him when maiden Ginello broke off at the half pole. Ginello was traveling with more energy than Gem crossing the wire.