HOLLYWOOD PARK : Sensational Star Seeks Thanksgiving Win

Sensational Star will be seeking to return to his winning ways as he heads a field of 11 middle-distance runners in Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day feature, the On Trust Handicap, at Hollywood Park.

The On Trust is for California-breds, 3 years old and up, who will race the one-turn mile for a winner’s purse of $67,800. Thursday’s program will have an early first post of 11 a.m.

Sensational Star, trained by Bill Spawr, is a 6-year-old chestnut gelding who has been first or second in 22 of 37 races. He won the seven-furlong Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park in May and has earned $176,425 this year.

Sensational Star, after putting together a three-race win streak at Hollywood and Del Mar, finished second in a pair of six-furlong sprints at Santa Anita. First he lost to Corwyn Bay by two lengths, then to Valiant Pete by half a length; both winners finished in 1:08 2/5. The latter race was the California Cup Sprint, where Sensational Star went off as the 7-10 favorite.

Rafael Meza will be aboard Sensational Star, who will carry high weight of 122 pounds.

Eight of the entrants in the On Trust are coming out of three Cal Cup races, including Cal Cup Mile winner Gum and runner-up Individualist. From the Classic will be Stylish Stud, who finished second but was moved back to third on a disqualification; Rocket Gibralter, fourth, and On The Menu, ninth.

Shirkee, the 8-5 favorite in the mile who ran seventh, is also trying to bounce back in the On Trust. Trained by Bill Shoemaker, Shirkee turned in a sensational 1:11 4/5 triumph over the 6 1/2-furlong grass course at Oak Tree just prior to the Cal Cup.

Shirkee will carry 117 pounds, with Russell Baze the rider.

No Commitment was scheduled to run in the Mile, but had to be scratched after flipping in the gate.

The field, in post position order: Kennedy’s Knockout, 113 pounds, ridden by Robbie Davis; Kept His Cool, 112, Julio Garcia; Shirkee, 117, Russell Baze; Eddie Champion, 112, Jorge Velasquez; Stylish Stud, 116, Chris McCarron; Gum, 115, Alex Solis; Rocket Gibralter, 112, Eddie Delahoussaye; On The Menu, 113, James Corral; No Commitment, 112, Corey Nakatani; Sensational Star, 122, Rafael Meza, and Individualist (USA), 114, Kent Desormeaux.