Rail Trip trying to make way back to winner’s circle
It’s the richest race of the Hollywood Park summer meeting on Saturday, and the 5-year-old gelding Rail Trip will be trying to repeat as champion in the Grade I, $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles.
Only two other horses have won the Hollywood Gold Cup more than once — Native Diver and Lava Man. Both were California-bred geldings who won the race three times.
Trainer Ron Ellis thinks Rail Trip has matured and developed into an even better horse than last year, when he won the Hollywood Gold Cup in a track-record time of 2:00.75.
“He was a lightly raced horse for a handicap horse,” Ellis said. “Now he knows what it is about. He’s almost like a professional, and he’s a bigger, stronger horse.”
Rail Trip peaked for the Gold Cup last year, then sputtered out, needing a break. This year, Rail Trip is running in only his third race, and Ellis has the Breeders’ Cup as a long-term goal.
First, though, Rail Trip must prove he’s the best in the handicap division in California, and there will be at least two strong challengers in the field of seven.
Compari, scratched from last weekend’s American Handicap on the turf, has speed and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. Richard’s Kid won the Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar last summer.
There’s no doubt Rail Trip has been impressive in his first two starts of 2010. The son of Jump Start is trying to become the first horse to sweep the Mervyn LeRoy, Californian and Gold Cup in the same year since Eleven Stitches in 1981.
Rail Trip has won eight of 11 starts and earned $967,790 for Jay Em Ess Stable. Jockey Rafael Bejarano has the mount. The Hollywood Gold Cup will be run as the eighth race on a 10-race card that also includes the Grade I $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap at seven furlongs.
Sign up for The Wild
We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
