Hollywood Juvenile Championship Roundup

Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert sends a pair of two-year-old thoroughbreds – Night Tide and Brigand – to the starting gate Sunday in the 72^nd running of the 6-furlong $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (G3) at Hollywood Park.

I like both of those entries in this race. But, of the two, I like Night Tide the most who comes into the race with a 102 Brisnet Speed Figure for his half-length maiden win at Hollywood Park on June 19.

Night Tide is a descendant of the Bold Ruler sire line and since 1990, that line has produced four Hollywood Juvenile Championship winners: Chandtrue (2004), Perfect Moon (2003), Yes It’s True (1998) and Scherando (1991).

Malibu Moon, the sire of Night Tide, also sired the 2003 winner Perfect Moon. On the Thoroughbred Times 2011 Juvenile Sire List, Malibu Moon is ranked 38^th in earnings and he has three winners in six starters for a 50% strike rate.

Undefeated Majestic City, trained by Peter Miller, looms as the horse to beat.

Majestic City looked impressive and earned a 104 speed figure for his 1½-length maiden win beating a 10-horse field at Hollywood Park on May 21. On June 12, Majestic City cruised to a 3½-length victory in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Majestic City is a descendant of the Mr. Prospector sire line and that line has produced five Championship winners since 1990: What A Song (2005), Crowned Dancer (2002), Came Home (2001), Squirtle Squirt (2000) and K O Punch (1997).

City Zip, the sire of Majestic City, is well known for getting precocious two-year-olds. On the juvenile sire list, City Zip is ranked third with five winners in nine starters for 56%.

Pend Oreille most likely will be a long shot when the morning line is set and although he has not raced in two months, if he looks good in the paddock, he may be worth a wager.

Pend Oreille earned a 94 speed figure in his maiden debut last April while easily defeating a nine-horse field by 2¾-lengths. If Pend Oreille repeats that performance, he should be competitive.

Pend Oreille is a descendant of the Damascus sire line and that line has produced two Championship winners: Swiss Yodeler (1996) and Ramblin’ Guy (1993).

Swiss Yodeler, the sire of Pend Oreille, is ranked 10^th in the juvenile sire list with 4 winners in 12 starters for 33%.