Action Is on the Turf

There isn’t much to get excited about today at Hollywood Park, the start of the meet’s third week, but there will be plenty of action over the long weekend.

The track’s popular Autumn Turf Festival kicks off Friday with the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express and the $200,000 Miesque Stakes, then Saturday features the $200,000 Generous Stakes and $500,000 Citation Handicap, then the three-day extravaganza is wrapped up by the $500,000 Hollywood Derby and $500,000 Matriarch.

Full fields are expected for most of the stakes races and Sunday’s card will also feature a $1-million guaranteed pool for the pick six.

Before the Festival begins, the turf course will be in use today. Jordi Moi heads a field of eight 3-year-olds in the fifth race at 11/16 miles and nine are scheduled to go in the seventh at 11/4 miles on the grass.

A gray son of Judge T C owned by a partnership that includes Lo Hi Stable and trained by Mike Machowsky, Jordi Moi has won three of his last five and is four for 12 on turf . The gelding won twice on the Del Mar turf and during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita before being victimized by a poor ride as the 2-1 favorite on Oct. 26.

Jordi Moi is reunited with Corey Nakatani, who has been aboard for his two latest wins. Among his opponents are the vastly improved Thrillion, who has won three of six since joining the barn of Barry Abrams, Starring Willy and Matlock.

In the seventh, likely favorite Saucy Cat, who was second for the fifth time in 11 races on this course 12 days ago, will race Nazirali, an import from France debuting for trainer Julio Canani, Our Main Man, Audmar and five others.

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Race of the day: The sixth is a 61/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old maidens running for a $32,000 tag and presents a lot of interesting possibilities. Call And Raise and On High Ground were troubled in their debuts, Rockin Robannier will be making his first start for trainer Jack Carava after being claimed, Dark Glasses adds Lasix for trainer Warren Stute, Semper Tap should improve off his debut for trainer Vladimir Cerin and Captain Squire is a first-time starter for productive trainer Jeff Mullins.

Who’s hot: Abrams. The trainer has won with four of his first 10 starters at Hollywood Park.

Who’s not: Toss Me A Freebe. The 6-year-old Happy Toss mare is only one for 22 lifetime and has lost by 71 lengths in six starts since posting her only win on Oct. 6, 2000 at Fresno. She will be a longshot in today’s eighth.

Exotically speaking: A pick four singling Jordi Moi in the fifth, using Rockin Robannier, Call And Raise, Semper Tap, Dark Glasses, On High Ground and Captain Squire in the sixth, Nazirali and Saucy Cat in the seventh and Encore Express, Motivation and Wild And Dusty in the eighth.