Stevens Completes a Weekend Sweep

All three graded stakes run at Hollywood Park over the weekend had something in common.

Not only did jockey Gary Stevens win them all, but Chris McCarron was second in each of the races.

After victories on Magellan and Squeak in Saturday’s American and Beverly Hills handicaps, Stevens easily won the $104,600 Landaluce on 5-2 second choice Hookedonthefeelin on Sunday in Inglewood.

Quickly able to make the lead from her outside post in the field of 12 2-year-old fillies, the daughter of Citidancer, who is owned by Mike Pegram, provided trainer Bob Baffert his first win in the Landaluce.

In defeating Box Office Girl, the 5-2 third choice, by four lengths, Hookedonthefeelin completed the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5, the fastest running of the Landaluce since Fluttery Danseur went 1:09 2/5 in 1991.

Excellent Meeting, who is also trained by Baffert, finished third as the 5-2 favorite, 4 1/2 lengths behind Box Office Girl.

“I haven’t had a 2-year-old win like that since Serena’s Song [in 1994],” Stevens said. “She basically just galloped all the way around with not much effort at all. I really didn’t ask her to run until we crossed the finish line and then I asked her to gallop out a little bit.

“She acts like she’ll run on. I didn’t expect to be on the lead; she just kind of dragged me there with a high-powered gallop.”

Horse Racing Notes

Hookedonthefeelin was a $110,000 yearling purchase. . . . Gary Stevens’ win in the Landaluce was his 125th career stakes victory at Hollywood Park. . . . Besides Box Office Girl, Chris McCarron was second with Bonapartiste in the American Handicap and Sixy Saint in the Beverly Hills Handicap on Saturday. . . . Serena’s Song won the 1994 Landaluce under Stevens and ended her career as North America’s all-time leading female money earner with $3,283,388 for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer Wayne Lukas.