Given the history of the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park, we are in for an exciting race this Saturday. Stacking up a resume of past winners such as Lookin at Lucky, Pioneerof the Nile, Brother Derek, Point Given, and A.P. Indy, the race has produced a steady stream of racing cream in its recent years, and looks to be doing much the same in the 2010 edition.
The $750,000 CashCall Futurity will feature the return of J P’s Gusto to his home of California after finishing a disappointing 6th-place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. At one time boasting a 4-race win streak, J P’s Gusto is the sole owner of a Grade I stakes win in the field of 10 competitors, with that victory coming in September in the Del Mar Futurity. Before his Breeders’ Cup flop, J P was toppled by arch-rival Jaycito in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes at the 1 1/16th – miles distance. While it’s safe to say he stands a good chance of rebounding on his home turf, a new shooter may knock the wind out of J P’s sails.
Though he has never run on anything but traditional dirt, Gourmet Dinner boasts an impressive resume, having lost only once in a career of 5 races. In his last start, the $1-million Delta Jackpot Stakes, the Florida colt disparaged all naysayers when clenching victory at the 1 1/16th-distance at odds of 20-1. His trainer, Steve Standridge, says he doesn’t believe the synthetic surface at Hollywood will hurt Gourmet Dinner’s chances; in fact, Standridge believes the colt might be a good turf horse. Until Gourmet Dinner can prove he can handle the surface switch, this stands as his biggest obstacle; statistics have shown that horses transfer better from synthetics to dirt, and not the other way around.
Another good-looking contender is Comma to the Top, who is on a 4-race win streak since clenching the Real Quiet and Generous Stakes, both at Hollywood Park. Comma to the Top has run against J P’s Gusto and Jaycito twice already, but that was at distances less than 1 mile. With the added distance of the CashCall, which will be run at 1 1/16th miles, Comma to the Top may finally be in his wheelhouse. J P has never won a race over 7 furlongs, and stretching out to 1 1/16th-miles might be his undoing. Gourmet Dinner will be waiting to gun down Comma to the Top at the wire.
With the picture of the juvenile class now beginning to flesh out, the California division seems to be producing a steady flow of good youngsters. The CashCall will set the stage for the biggest fish in the West, possibly minting a new Grade I winner in the process. And, of course, forging the road from California to Kentucky.
The Grade I $750,000 CashCall Futurity will be broadcast live from Hollywood Park on TVG. Post time is approximately 7:37pm ET.