Brave Act Gets Act Together in Citation

A return to Hollywood Park, a new jockey and a change in tactics made the difference for Brave Act in the $500,000 Citation Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Winless in his previous four starts, the 5-year-old son of Persian Bold trailed early, then came flying late to edge 18-1 shot Native Desert by a neck in 1:39 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf.

With Alex Solis riding for the first time, Brave Act, the 6-1 fourth choice in the field of 11, won his fourth in six tries on the Hollywood Park grass and pushed his earnings near $1.1 million for owners Sid and Jenny Craig. The English-bred has now won 11 of 25.

Native Desert, a California-bred who was claimed for $32,000 over three years ago by trainer Juan Garcia for owner Miguel Rubio, also became a millionaire with his second-place finish. He finished half a length in front of Bouccaneer, who was a neck in front of 19-10 favorite Hawksley Hill, who lost his 10th in a row. Seven of those defeats have been as the favorite. “Alex has never even worked the horse,” said winning trainer Ron McAnally after his 99th stakes win in Inglewood. “I had a talk with him this morning, telling him how this race was setting up. I said [jockey] Chris [McCarron] had to use him a little bit in the Breeders’ Cup [Mile, where he finished sixth] being in the outside post and it probably cost us the race.

“I told Alex to get him to relax and he got him to relax and I thought maybe too much. He was still last when they turned for home.”

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Unable to get the money with Hawksley Hill, trainer Neil Drysdale and jockey Pat Day did win the day’s other feature, the $200,000 Generous Stakes with 3-2 favorite Jokerman.

Winning for the fourth time in five starts, the 2-year-old Septieme Ciel colt, who won three of four in France, outfinished 17-10 second choice Purely Cozzene by a head in 1:35 1/5 for the mile on turf.

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Trainer Bobby Frankel will have two chances for his third win in the last four years in the $500,000 Matriarch today at Hollywood Park.

Happyanunoit, who has won two of her last three, is the 5-2 favorite in the Grade I, while Frankel’s other entrant, Spanish Fern, is the 5-1 co-third choice in the field of nine fillies and mares.

The other top contenders in the 1 1/8-mile race are Sapphire Ring, an impressive winner of the Las Palmas Handicap earlier this month at Santa Anita, and Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Tuzla, who is unbeaten in five starts on the Hollywood Park turf course.

The final race in Hollywood Park’s $2.15-million Turf Festival, the Matriarch will be preceded on the card by the $500,000 Early Times Hollywood Derby, which drew an overflow field of 14.

Mula Gula, who has won three of his last four on the grass for owner Steven Gula and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, is the lukewarm 7-2 favorite in a field that also includes, among others, Beckon The King, Super Quercus, Eagleton and Sumati.

Santovito, one of four also-eligibles when the Derby was drawn, found his way into the starting lineup Saturday when Bienamado was scratched. Santovito will be part of the mutuel field with Passinetti and Monkey Puzzle.

Horse Racing Notes

Trying to repeat her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Cash Run was upset in the $200,000-added Golden Rod at Churchill Downs as she was run down late by Humble Clerk. . . . Two races later, Captain Steve, who finished 28 1/2 lengths behind Anees in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, easily won the $200,000-added Brown and Williamson Kentucky Jockey Club. This was the third win in seven starts for the son of Fly So Free. . . . At Aqueduct, Affirmed Success ended a seven-race losing streak, winning the $350,000 Cigar Mile. Adonis rallied late for second and Honorifico was third. Affirmed Success, who was ridden by Jorge Chavez for trainer Richard Schosberg, completed the distance in 1:34.

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COUNTDOWN TO 8,833 / RIDING TO THE RECORD

Charting Laffit Pincay Jr. as he closes in on Bill Shoemaker’s record for victories by a jockey:

Friday at Hollywood Park

Mounts: 7

Victories: 1

Overall: 8,823

Wins needed for tie: 10