Buzzards Bay is back from long layoff
Two years removed from his appearance in the Kentucky Derby, Buzzards Bay will make his 2007 debut in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap today at Hollywood Park.
A Grade II at 1 1/16 miles, the LeRoy is the first prep for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30. It is the 10th of 11 races in Inglewood.
Fifth in the 2005 Derby a month after his 30-1 upset in the Santa Anita Derby, Buzzards Bay hasn’t been out since finishing fourth as the 7-5 favorite in the Stephen Foster Handicap last June.
Owned by Gary Broad and trained by Ron Ellis, the 5-year-old Marco Bay horse has trained well for his return. He will be ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., who was aboard when the Florida-bred won the All American Handicap at Golden Gate Fields and the Oaklawn Handicap in Hot Springs, Ark., last year.
“He had some ankle problems so I sent him to the farm [Bonnie Acres in Hemet] for a couple of months last fall,” Ellis said. “Mentally, he also needed a break. He had strong campaigns as a 2-, 3- and 4-year-old. The time off really seems to have benefited him. I think he’s better now than he was before.”
Buzzards Bay, who has never raced on a synthetic surface, will carry high weight of 120 pounds.
One of his challengers is Molengao. Bred in Brazil by owner T N T Stud and trained by Paulo Lobo, Molengao, a 6-year-old son of Royal Academy, finished second behind Lava Man in the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start March 3.
A winner of four of 14, Molengao, who finished third in the Native Diver Handicap in his lone start on the Cushion track Dec. 10, will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.
From the inside out, the rest of the LeRoy field includes Porto Santo, Mambo Train, Bravo Maestro, Billy Allen, Cimyla and Wanna Runner, who will be making his first start since finishing sixth in the West Virginia Derby last August at Mountaineer for owner Mike Pegram and trainer Bob Baffert.
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Gates will open at Hollywood Park at 7:30 a.m. and the first simulcast race from Churchill Downs will be at 8 a.m.
Post time for the first live race at Hollywood Park is noon. The Kentucky Derby will be shown between the fifth and sixth races at the Inglewood track.
Post time for the Derby is 3:04 p.m.
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