Unusual Suspect breaks through

With an unexpected assist from fellow jockey Patrick Valenzuela, Tyler Baze and 16-1 shot Unusual Suspect got a dream opening to rally from last and win the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

The large seam Unusual Suspect used to edge 9-1 shot Bonfante by a nose was created by a tiring Fast Parade, the 2-1 favorite in the Grade III stakes race.

In his first start since March 3 and looking for his fourth win in five races on turf, Fast Parade drifted out under left-handed whipping from Valenzuela in the final eighth of a mile, impeding about half the field.

After a stewards’ inquiry, Fast Parade, who finished sixth in the field of nine, was disqualified and placed last.

Owned by David, Dyan and trainer Barry Abrams, Unusual Suspect, a 3-year-old Unusual Heat colt, covered the six furlongs in 1:09.06 to win for the third time in his last four starts. He took the Bay Meadows Derby on Sept. 29, then, after finishing fourth in the Oak Tree Derby, Unusual Suspect won the California Cup Mile at 12-1 on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

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Trainer Todd Pletcher completed a sweep of the 2-year-old portion of the Turf Festival when 2-1 favorite Sea Chanter won the $113,200 Miesque at Hollywood Park.

A day after The Leopard won the Generous, Sea Chanter, a daughter of War Chant, defeated 7-1 shot Macellya and nine others for her third win in six starts. She ran the mile in 1:35.84 under Mike Smith.

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Daaher, the 2-1 second choice, won his third race in a row, knocking off 1-2 favorite Midnight Lute by 2 1/2 lengths in the $300,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

Jockey John Velazquez won two graded stakes earlier in the day, winning the $100,000 Discovery Handicap with favored Now A Victor and the $200,000 Demoiselle with 4-1 shot Mushka.

In the other graded stakes on the card, Court Vision, the 4-5 favorite, won for the third time in four starts, overcoming a rough trip and a stewards’ inquiry to take the $200,000 Remsen under jockey Eibar Coa.

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Julien Leparoux, who will soon become a member of the Southern California jockey colony, won both graded stakes on the closing day card at Churchill Downs and also the riding title in dramatic style.

After victories with the undefeated Pure Clan in the $276,750 Golden Rod and 8-1 shot Anak Nakal in the $276,950 Kentucky Jockey Club, Leparoux won the day’s last race by a nose on Aquarian, giving him the title by one winner over Calvin Borel, who rode runner-up Revenge Is Sweet in the finale.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com