Hollywood Juvenile Stakes Racing Roundup

J P’s Gusto heads a field of eight horses as the 7-5 morning line favorite of the 71st running of the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship at Hollywood Park.

Trained by David Hofmans, J P’s Gusto comes into the race off a 4 ½ - length maiden win in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes. J P’s Gusto earned a 99 Brisnet Speed Figure for that effort which is the highest of all the horses entered in today’s race.

J P’s Gusto is a descendent of the Man o’ War sire line and the last horse from that line to win the Hollywood Juvenile was the 1986 victor Captain Valid who was sired by Valid Appeal – the grandsire of J P’s Gusto.

(Addendum: In 1992, Altazarr was the last Man o' War descendent to win the Hollywood Juvenile Championship.)

Western Mood, the 2-1 second-choice, comes into the race off of a 5-furlong maiden-winning debut last month at Hollywood. Western Mood is owned and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer who won the Hollywood Juvenile in 1988 with King Glorious.

A bullet work out on June 2 indicates that Western Mood should be ready to run another good race.

Western Mood is a descendent of the Mr. Prospector sire line and since 1990 there have been five descendents from that line who have won the Hollywood Juvenile: K. O. Punch (1997), Squirtle Squirt (2000), Came Home (2001), Crowned Dancer (2002) and What A Song (2005). Also entered in today’s field, Minutesandtouches (10-1) is a Mr. Prospector sire line descendent.

A couple of nice looking long shots are Marvin’s Magic (8-1) and Edgewick Road (10-1).

Marvin’s Magic comes into the race off of a one-length maiden-winning debut at Emerald Downs last month. Marvin’s Magic earned a 90 speed figure for the effort and has produced several nice work outs since he’s been in training. A sharp work out July 2 and a jockey change to Mike Smith, indicates that Marvin’s Magic could be ready to run another good race.

Marvin’s Magic, a descendent of the Bold Ruler sire line, was sired by Aptitude and his grandsire A.P. Indy was also the grandsire of Perfect Moon who won the 2003 Hollywood Juvenile.

Since 1990, there have been four Bold Ruler sire line descendents who have won the Hollywood Juvenile: Scherando (1991), Yes It’s True (1998), Perfect Moon (2003) and Chandtrue (2004). Also in today’s field, Tappin Tough (20-1) is a Bold Ruler sire line descendent.

In his last outing, Edgewick Road was beaten 13 ¾ -lengths by J P’s Gusto in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes. However, Edgewick Road made a nice run in the stretch to close from seventh to third place and if he can be closer to the pace, with some racing luck, he could be a factor in today’s race.

Edgewick Road is owned and trained by Mike Harrington who also trained his sire Swiss Yodeler – winner of the 1996 Hollywood Juvenile. Edgewick Road is a descendent of the Damascus sire line and since 1990 there have been two descendents from that line who have won the juvenile: Ramblin Guy (1993) and Swiss Yodeler (1996). Also entered in today’s race, Leon Ayala (20-1) is a Damascus sire line descendent.

Interestingly, none of the horses in today’s field are descendents of the Northern Dancer sire line which has produced eight juvenile winners since 1990: Deposit Ticket (1990), Mr. Purple (1994), Hennessy (1995), Dixie Union (1999), E Z Warrior (2006), Salute The Sarge (2007), Azul Leon (2008) and Necessary Evil (2009).