San Luis Rey Stakes (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
SA- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
March 20, 2021

It was a wet day at SA on Saturday, and due to that the turf course would be classified as yielding. This is a probable reason for the race’s two scratches: Shimoon Chai and King Que Niagra, especially when considering their one race on a wet surface did not go well. For Hollywood Hero, this would be the first time that he would run on an off track, and it would end up being quite successful as he scores the win for Nakamura Stables. It is the first win for the trainer, and the jockey, T C Baze, in this race. It would be run in a time of 2:28.98. Here’s a look at it!

(½ Mile- :49.91)- As the field heads down the downhill portion and onto the main turf course, it is our eventual winner from Nakamura Stables, Hollywood Hero, and Arindel’s Long Term Deal running side by side for the lead. After half a mile, they have opened up an advantage of about two and a half lengths over Cp Decima Pi (Greyfriars Stable) and Maybe Tonight (Alydar Stables), who run together for third. Keg Size (Bomberracing) is a length behind them, with Key Biscayne (TwinTowersRacing) recovering a bit after a poor start to be sixth, leaving last year’s winner, Controlled Power (Spankys Barn) at the rear of the field.

(¾ Mile- 1:14.83)- There is not much change in the field as they head around the clubhouse turn and move into the backstretch. Hollywood Hero holds a half length lead over Long Term Deal, and they still have that comfortable gap to third place. Maybe Tonight has pulled away from Cp Decima Pi, though, and leads him by a length. He’s also being caught by Keg Size, who is about to go by on his outside. It’s another length and a half to Key Biscayne, and another length to Controlled Power.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Completing the backstretch portion, and moving into the final turn, our two leaders, Hollywood Hero and Long Term Deal each seem very comfortable, but by the time they reached the exit of the turn, only one of them would prevail. All was still well with Hollywood Hero, remaining on good form entering the stretch. Long Term Deal was beginning to lose touch with him though, and at this point we would probably just see if he could hold on for second. That would not be easy, as Key Biscayne had been running very well in the turn, and Maybe Tonight also was making some progress, but not as much as Key Biscayne. Keg Size was lacking response, and Controlled Power was moving forward, but there would be too much ground to make up. Cp Decima Pi packed it in quite badly in the turn.

(Finish- 2:28.98)- In the stretch, all that was left to do was to watch Hollywood Hero run to the wire and pick up a smooth looking victory. He wins by a length over the valiantly closing Key Biscayne, who probably would have been a much bigger challenger for the win if he broke better from the gate. Arindel will be disappointed that Long Term Deal was caught in the strides for third by Maybe Tonight. Keg Size and Controlled Power showed nothing in the stretch, and Cp Decima Pi was soundly beaten.

About The Winner- Hollywood Hero, trained by Nakamura Stables, and ridden to victory by T C Baze, is a four year old gelding by Hollywood Blaze and is out of Red Rene. He was bred in California as a yearling by Nakamura Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 19 starts, his second stake win, and his first graded win. His career earnings are now $289.460.

Track: Yielding
Time: :49⁴  1:14⁴  2:04   2:28⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 8 Paid 21.10
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 8 – 2 Paid 65.60

Scratched: King Que Niagra, Shimoon Chai

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES