Favored ‘Sphinx Goes for the Gold

Winless in seven starts in France, Gold Sphinx is a nose away from having a perfect record in the United States.

The 4-year-old Storm Cat colt has won two of three in California. His lone loss came in an allowance race on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita, by a nose to Buckland Manor, who is headed to the $600,000 Hollywood Derby.

Gold Sphinx is the 2-1 favorite tonight in Hollywood Park’s seventh race, a $46,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

In his last victory, which came on the Breeders’ Cup undercard, Gold Sphinx won by 1 1/2 lengths, going a flat mile as the 2-1 favorite. The strength of the race has been validated. Both Six Numbers, the runner-up, and Rock N Rosh, third-place finisher, have won since.

Six horses are scheduled to face Gold Sphinx, who will break from the rail under David Flores.

From the inside out, they are Holdthehelm, Vacamonte, Tikkun, who beat probable horse of the year Mineshaft in a turf race in England last year, Expresso Bay, the 5-2 second choice, White Buck and Marina Minister.

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Race of the day: Revello, who has won three times at Hollywood Park and is zero for eight everywhere else, returns to his favorite place tonight in the sixth, a $41,000 optional claimer at six furlongs. The 5-year-old Memo gelding is the 7-2 second choice in the field of eight.

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One for the road: In the seven-furlong fifth today at Churchill Downs, Fiesty Jones is dropped into a claimer for her second start, for 2-year-old maiden fillies. The Texas-bred moves off the rail and comes from a barn (Steve Asmussen) that wins at a high percentage with second-time starters. Corey Lanerie will ride.

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Exotically speaking: A pick three using La Zuli in the second, Love Lane and S.S. Hawkeye in the third and French Selection, Early Snow and Musique Toujours.

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Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/20. Money: Previous day/meet total: $16.20/$101.20. Total money bet: $116.