HOLLYWOOD PARK : Defensive Play Heads Affirmed Handicap Field

Defensive Play, a winner of Group races in England who captured the Grade I Man O’War Handicap in his U.S. debut at Belmont Park this fall, heads a field of seven 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s $108,900 Affirmed Handicap at one mile on Hollywood Park’s main track.

A son of Fappiano who defeated Shy Tom and Ode in the New York stake, Defensive Play will be tried on dirt for the first time in the Grade III Affirmed. He will carry high weight of 123 pounds and jockey Jose Santos.

The bay colt won three of six races in England for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Guy Harwood before coming to the United States in September. English jockey Pat Eddery was aboard for the wire-to-wire victory in the 1 3/8-mile Man O’War.

New York trainer Shug McGaughey has taken over the conditioning of Defensive Play in this country.

Individualist, who took the On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park on Nov. 22, figures as the horse Defensive Play will have to beat Saturday. The David Hofmans-trainee has shown an affinity for the Hollywood Park track. Individualist won the Hollywood Prevue Stakes last year. He ran one mile in 1:34 when winning this year’s On Trust.

The Golden Eagle Farms’ gelding is second high weight in the field at 118 pounds. Kent Desormeaux is the jockey for Individualist.

Lee’s Tanthem, a shipper from Bay Meadows, puts his extraordinary record on the line Saturday. Lee Tanthem has won six of his last seven starts, all stakes in Northern California. He ran second in the other. Regular rider Roberto Gonzalez will be aboard for trainer Jeff Bonde.

The field, in post position order: Copelan’s Game (Julio Garcia) 113, Individualist (Kent Desormeaux) 118, Bedeviled (Chris McCarron) 117, Lee’s Tanthem (Roberto Gonzalez) 117, Defensive Play (Jose Santos) 123, Balla Cove (Alex Solis) 114, and Greydar (Gary Stevens) 116.

If all seven entries go to the post, the total purse will be $108,900 and the winner will earn $63,900.

Exploding Prospect won last year’s race in the stakes record-tying time of 1:34 1/5. Turkoman also was timed in 1:34 1/5 in winning the race in 1985.