The Grade 1 $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup

Now that all the hullabaloo from the 27th Breeders' Cup World Championships is starting to dissipate, it is high time to get back to the business of trying to find a winner in the big races for this weekend. The race I selected is the Grade 1 $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup with what appears to be a hyper-competitive group of eight going 1 1/2 miles. Here is the analysis:

My top choice in the Hollywood Turf Cup will be #7 Temple City. I expect there to be some pressure on the front end from a couple of the others in here, but he has hit the board twice in three lifetime grass starts at Hollywood Park and his last victory came at this distance, albeit over the polytrack at Del Mar in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap on July 30. By the way, Joe Talamo was aboard for that win and gets the ride again today. For second, I will go with #2 Treat Gently, who will likely be a lukewarm favorite in this race. She caught a wide trip in her last effort at Belmont in the Turf Classic and remained in contention until the bitter end, when she ended fourth. However, she was less than three lengths off the winner on that occasion. Her last workout at Hollywood covered three furlongs in 36 2/5 seconds. A mare taking on the boys here might be too much to ask as well. I am not sure what kind of race my third choice, #1 Worth Repeating, is going to run. Is he going to go to the front and open up a large margin like he did last time when he gave it up late to lose by a nose or is he going to sit just off the pace and try to rally late? He seemed adept at the latter until the Clement Hirsch, when he didn't fire and ended up seventh. Rafael Bejarano got this colt in-the-money the last four times they were paired together. Finally, I will use #5 Where's The Remote, who finished less than a length off of Champ Pegasus in the Hirsch. We all know that Champ Pegasus came back in the Breeders' Cup Turf to run a heck of a race to finish second to Dangerous Midge after setting the pace the whole way. Mike Smith gets the riding assignment. Here is the play for the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup:

$5 WP #7
$1 EX BOX 1-2-7
$1 TRI 7 WITH 1-2-5-6
TOTAL- $34

Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!