Denim N Diamonds Futurity at Hollywood Park : Treasure Hopes Luck Changes, Rides Top Qualifier

Steve Treasure, who has ridden the second-place finisher in two of the previous four runnings of the Denim N Diamonds Futurity, has a chance to finally win the race when he boards Elliptical, the fastest qualifier, in the $524,958 quarter horse event tonight at Hollywood Park.

The Denim N Diamonds, which was run under different names the first four times it was held, is part of the closing weekend of the season at Hollywood Park. On Saturday, the last night of the meeting, the feature will be the $125,000 Hollywood Championship Invitational.

Last year, Treasure rode Ima Merridoc to a second-place finish behind Raise A Secret in what has become the Denim N Diamonds. In 1983, Treasure and Rise N High were second to Indigo Illusion.

Elliptical was the top qualifier for tonight’s 440-yard race with a time of :22.39 on a sloppy track. Next fastest was Freedom Flyer at :22.42.

Tonight’s 10-horse field, in post-position order: Our Easy Effort, Danny Cardoza riding; Elliptical and Treasure; The Rebel Band, James Brooks; Florentine, Kenny Hart; Striding for Gold, James Lackey; Freedom Flyer, Kip Didericksen; Bedouin Raider, Bruce Pilkenton; Hold All Tickets, John Creager; Making Ways, Ralph Pauline; and Daring Dasher, Scott White.