Two favorites aim to break pattern

The $100,000 Sharp Cat and $100,000 Real Quiet, which will be run today and Sunday, respectively, at Hollywood Park, were created a couple of years ago to serve as a bridge to the more lucrative Hollywood Starlet and Hollywood Futurity.

So far, success in the prep hasn’t led to glory in the big event in December. No 2-year-old -- male or female -- has won both races.

The five fillies who will run in the Sharp Cat today and the eight colts and geldings who will suit up in the Real Quiet hope to change that. Each race has a heavy favorite. Foxy Danseur will be a short price to win the 1 1/16 -mile Sharp Cat after finishing second in the Anoakia on Oct. 20 at Santa Anita.

Owned by Charles Cono LLC and trained by Chris Paasch, the Mr. Greeley filly has yet to run beyond seven furlongs, but has been consistent and isn’t meeting much of a cast.

Meanwhile, Colonel John is expected to make a successful stretch to 1 1/16 miles in the Real Quiet, which was won a year ago by Roman Commander, who returned to finish third in the Futurity.

Trained by Eoin Harty for owner-breeders WinStar Farms LLC, Colonel John was dominant against maidens Oct. 7 at Santa Anita and should improve with more distance. He is a son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow out of a Turkoman mare.

--

The local jockey colony will get even stronger Wednesday when Rafael Bejarano begins riding at Hollywood Park.

The fifth-leading rider in the country this year with more than $14 million in purse earnings, Bejarano, 25, has spent most of his career in Kentucky.

The Peru-born rider has already had one memorable day in California. On April 9, 2006, Bejarano won six times on the Santa Anita Derby card, becoming the eighth jockey to win a half-dozen races on a single day at Santa Anita.

--

Buzzards Bay, who is two for two at Golden Gate Fields, will try the track’s new Tapeta surface for the first time when he attempts to successfully defend his title in the $150,000 All American today.

Jose Valdivia Jr., who escaped serious injury in a spill last Sunday at Hollywood Park, will ride the 5-year-old Marco Bay horse for owner Gary Broad and trainer Ron Ellis. Nine other older horses are scheduled to run in the Grade III at 1 1/8 miles.

--

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com