Shared Belief wins CashCall Futurity

Betfair Hollywood Park had its last big day of racing Saturday, and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer had a big day.

His 2-year-old, Shared Belief, owned in part by television personality Jim Rome, won the 33rd and final chapter of the CashCall Futurity, a $750,000 race that annually establishes at least one top prospect for the Kentucky Derby.

It was the final chapter because its home, Hollywood Park, will close its doors after racing next Sunday. A real estate development is projected to replace the legendary Inglewood racing facility.

“I’ve loved the place,” Hollendorfer said, “and I hate to see it go.”

He hated little about Shared Belief’s run down the stretch of the 11/16-mile race, which indicated the kind of dominance that will get him a great deal of attention, assuming he remains healthy, come Triple Crown season.

“I hate to put a horse on the Derby trail,” Hollendorfer said. “Besides, you guys will do that, anyway. The horse kind of puts himself on the Derby trail.”

Not only did Hollendorfer win the CashCall and get a third place out of another of his horses, Tamarando, but he also saddled the first three finishers in the $150,000 Native Diver Stakes, a Grade III run at 11/8 miles. Blueskiesnrainbows won, Hear The Ghost was second and Rousing Sermon third.

John Sandler’s Candy Boy ran an exception race in the CashCall and got second at 26-1.

That gave Hollendorfer the honor of saddling five of the six horses who hit

the board in the final two graded stakes at Hollywood Park.

“I’ve run 1-2-3 in the El Camino Real Derby” in Northern California, Hollendorfer said, “but you don’t expect to do it in Southern California. I’m a very fortunate guy.”

Rome, whose Mizdirection won two Breeders’ Cup titles the last two years, was also counting his blessings.

A reporter kidded him that he was getting good at this horse racing stuff.

“I’m getting lucky at this,” Rome said.

The Hollywood Turf Cup, a 11/2-mile Grade II worth $250,250, started the big final day off with a victory by Lucayan, who came charging down the home stretch under Joel Rosario and outran veterans Gary Stevens, aboard Temeraine, and Mike Smith aboard Segway.

Corey Nakatani, also a veteran and a major part of this track’s history, with his dominating rides aboard legendary Lava Man, drew praise from Hollendorfer for his ride on Shared Belief.

“He seemed comfortable where he placed him,” Hollendorfer said, “and he did a fine job.”

Attendance was 7,010. The track will hold racing Sunday, then Friday, Saturday and next Sunday, before closing forever.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com