A field of only seven colts are headed to the final edition of the six furlong Hollywood Juvenile Championship. Willie B Awesome and Solid Wager, the second and third place finishers in the Willard Proctor, will attempt to add more blacktype to their resumes.
Willie B Awesome (Awesome Gambler - Cause I'm Tricky, by Nineeleven) grabbed the lead in the stretch of the Willard Proctor but was passed by the winner. He held on for second over a short neck ahead of Solid Wager.
Solid Wager (Birdonthewire - G Ma, by Valid Wager) raced in the back of the field early in the Willard Proctor and went three wide on the turn, finishing a jump behind Willie B Awesome. The extra distance should suit him.
Alpine Luck (Lucky J. H. - I Can Yodele, by Swiss Yodeler) wired the field in his maiden win getting 5F in a respectable :58 2/5. He held of Ontology by a measured length. Alpine Luck is a half to two-time juvenile stakes winner Swiss Wild Cat.
Ontology (Tapit - Shytoe Lafeet, by King of Kings (IRE)) is the first foal out of his multiple stakes winning dam. Shytoe Lafeet was a versatile earner of over $300K, winning at a mile to 1 1/16 over dirt and turf. Ontology should appreciate more distance.
The remaining three colts are first time starters. Knock Em Flat (Flatter - Malamado, by Broken Vow) was a $350K OBS April two year old in training purchase after working a furlong in :10.1. He's the first foal out of his dam. She proved to be camera shy, visiting the winners' circle only once in seven starts. Malamado is a half sister to the multiple G-2 heroine Tar Heel Mom (by Flatter) and to G-3 winner Scrappy T (by Fit to Fight), who is best known for causing Afleet Alex to stumble in the Preakness. Knock Em Flat's sire Flatterer is noted for getting older stakes winners (Flat Out, Tar Heel Mom, etc.) but he's also a sneaky good juvenile sire, getting 39% winners, but only 9% win first time out.
Bond Holder (Mineshaft - Cielo Girl, by Conquistador Cielo) brought $125K at the OBS March two year old in training sale after breezing a furlong in :10.2. Mineshaft's offspring win only 6% as first time starters. Cielo Girl was a solid dirt sprinter, in the money 20 of her 31 starts, including stakes. She wasn't precocious, needing five starts to win. Bond Holder is from the same people who brought us Derby/Preakness winner I'll Have Another. The O'Neil barn is 13% with first time starters, but Bond Holder will likely improve with racing.
Carson's Ten (Rock Hard Ten - Carson's Dane, by Carson City) is the first foal out of his dam to race. She went 0-3 in her career, but is a half to Sands Point (G-3) winner Raw Silk. The majority of Rock Hard Ten's offspring are best over turf and Polytrack. 11% of his offspring win at first asking.
SELECTIONS
Solid Wager will appreciate the extra distance and represents a high percentage barn. Willie B Awesome has improved his speed figures in every start and had a strong work for this race. Alpine Luck has also improved in every race. Of the three newcomers, Knock Em Flat has the most class and worked a quick five furlongs from the gate in his last breeze.
#2 Alpine Luck
#5 Solid Wager
#6 Willie B Awesome
