Shoemaker and Whittingham Win at Hollypark, Too

The Kentucky Derby-winning team of jockey Bill Shoemaker and trainer Charles Whittingham struck again Sunday by taking the $159,200 John Henry Handicap with Palace Music at Hollywood Park.

Palace Music, a Kentucky-bred 5-year-old who scored four major victories in Europe before returning home last fall, outran favored Clever Song in the stretch for a 1-length victory, his first in the United States.

Shoemaker flew in from Louisville, where he had won the Kentucky Derby Saturday aboard Ferdinand. The jockey arrived a few hours before the feature.

“I kinda liked this horse, and that’s the reason I came back today,” Shoemaker said.

Palace Music, carrying top weight of 122 pounds, broke well in the field of five but dropped back to last place until Shoemaker brought him to the outside for the stretch run. He overhauled Clever Song to pull away at the finish.

Clever Song stayed in third place under Fernando Toro until the final quarter, where he moved to the lead but could not hold off Palace Music and Shoemaker.

Little Look was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

Palace Music raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 4/5 on the infield grass course and, as second choice, paid $4.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Clever Song returned $2.20 and $2.10, and Little Look paid $2.10.

The victory was worth $91,700 plus a Breeders’ Cup award of $27,000 to the partnership of Nelson Bunker Hunt of Dallas and Allen Paulson of Los Angeles.

The victory was the sixth for Shoemaker in the race that had its name changed from the Century Handicap to honor John Henry, the all-time money-winning champion. It was the seventh time Whittingham had saddled the winner of the race, including Dahar last year.

The victory boosted Shoemaker’s lifetime victory total to 8,538, including 943 in stakes and 218 in races worth $100,000 or more.