up

Hollywood Derby 2013 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California will play host to the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby this Sunday, December 1. A group of three year olds will take to Hollywood Park's turf track and go 1 1/4 miles in search of the winner's share of the $250,000 purse.

A field of 10 has been confirmed for the Hollywood Derby - race 6 on Hollywood Park's Sunday card. Post time is 3:04 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all 10 combatants for this Grade 1 stakes.

Horse Race Betting at Hollywood Park

- Open OTB Account
Horse Racing Rebates

2013 Hollywood Derby Race Favorite Entries

Rookie Sensation - John Shirreffs trained colt has five career starts with three wins and a second place finish. Last time out was a stakes debut to remember - a win in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 8-1 odds at Santa Anita November 1 over a number of his Hollywood Derby foes. Before that impressive win was an Allowance Optional Claiming score, a second in a similar race and a maiden score in his second career start on this track June 16. Rookie Sensation is a neck away from being 3-for-3 on turf and has a lot of hype and a lot of momentum behind him ahead of his first Grade 1 try. He races at Hollywood Park for the first time Sunday in very good form.

Admiral Kitten -Michael Maker trained colt is coming off a good second as favorite in the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap October 5 at Belmont Park to follow his biggest win to date - the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park August 17 and a string of four second place finishes. Included are the Grade 3 American Derby July 13, the Grade 3 Arlington Classic May 25 and the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes also in May. He has placed in eight of nine career starts all over the country (only once has he been worse than second) and should be competitive as usual Sunday.

Hollywood Derby 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Jack Milton - Todd Pletcher trained colt has seven career starts - a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming in February followed a MSW score in his debut at Gulfstream January 12. He made his stakes debut April 5 in grand style - a win in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland and has since finished third in four stakes races - in the minor Penn Mile June 1 behind Rydilluc and Charming Kitten, in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby July 13, in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park August 17 and in the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap last time out right behind Admiral Kitten at Belmont Park October 5. He has fared well in some big races on a wide variety of tracks and should be in the mix Sunday.

Amen Kitten - Wesley Ward pupil has 15 starts with two wins, four seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was a terrific win in the minor Tropical Park Derby at Calder October 12 after a fifth in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup September 14 and a sixth in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park. He also had an OK third in the minor Kitten's Joy Stakes at Colonial Downs in July. Amen Kitten has failed to place in any of his three graded stakes starts but his win last time out has created a sense of optimism.

Infinite Magic - raced to two wins and two seconds in five starts on synthetic in England before debuting in North America April 14 where he won an Allowance by a head at Keeneland. He made his graded staked debut and finished a disappointing ninth in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park May 11 and followed that with a sixth in the Grade 3 Hill Prince. Last time was another disappointment - a tenth in the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby after a good second in the second division of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and a statement win in the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park July 13 at 12-1 odds. He looked very good in the summer but his Hawthorne Derby result raises a fee questions.

Hollywood Derby betting at Hollywood Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Dice Flavor - Patrick Gallagher trained colt made his stakes debut with an upset win in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at 9-1 odds at Golden Gate February 16 and won again in the competitive Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap at 9-1 odds at Del Mar August 10. He has certainly struggled since - an eighth last time out in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita November 1 followed a tenth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby September 1. He also had a third in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes here in July and a fourth in the Grade 3 Affirmed and a doomed trip to Meydan Racecourse this year. Dice Flavor looked good early in the year but has struggled mightily in his last two starts overall.

Seek Again - will make his North American debut Sunday after seven career starts in Britain yielded three wins and two second place finishes. Last time out was a win at York after a couple of off-the-board finishes.

Gervinho - Carla Gaines trained colt has won three of seven starts including one division of the minor Oceanside Stakes here and the minor Zuma Beach Stakes in October 2012. In 2013 he has four starts and has placed in all - a third last time out in the Grade 2 Twilight derby at Santa Anita followed a second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and a nice win in the minor Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar in July. He has been in the mix in every race this year and will be looking for his first stakes score Sunday.

Dry Summer - won two in a row to start the year- the minor Mine That Bird Derby February 23 and an Allowance January 27 but failed to fire in the Sunland Derby finishing eighth of nine. He followed that with a fourth in the Grade 2 La Jolla at Del Mar August 10, a seventh in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and a fourth right behind Gervinho last time out in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby. His other graded stakes results were less-than-impressive as well - a fourth in the Grade 3 Sham January 5, an eleventh in the Breeders' Cup and an eighth in the Grade 1 Frontrunner at Santa Anita in September. he has just four wins in 12 career starts and seems to fall short on the big stages.

Irish Surf - had a two race win streak in the summer including a MSW on this track in July but has struggled in his last two starts - a seventh in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby followed a ninth in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita September 29. Irish Surf has just two wins, a second and four third place finishes in 12 career starts.

Live Racing Schedule

Race Tracks Time (EST)