Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap
Saturday, June 7, Hollywood Park The Low-Down: John Henry took this race down three times. Charlie Whittingham saddled so many winners in this race the track decided to change the name in 1999 from the Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap to the Whittingham Memorial Handicap. This year we have the 2006 winner of the race looking to regain his title. You might have heard of him. Some old Cal-bred claimer they call LAVA MAN. 'LAVA' has amassed more than $5.2 million in career earnings. Not bad for a claimer. He is looking to improve off a dubious return effort in the Khaled Stakes back in late April, where he succumbed to fellow Whittingham competitor MR. WOLVERINE. But 'LAVA' is not the only Grade 1 winner in this group. ARTISTE ROYAL notched a Grade 1 back in 2007 when taking down the Clement L. Hirsch. 'ARTISTE' has three races under his belt this year, which include a second in the G1 Kilroe Mile and a third in the G1 Turf Classic -- a resume that demands respect. Bobby Frankel has a major player joining the party by the name of CHAMPS ELYSEES. 'CHAMPS' is coming off a heart-breaking nose loss in the Jim Murray Memorial earlier in the meet. His lone win in the U.S. came at this 1 1/4 miles distance. And, still, there is more: MONZANTE, the Mike Mitchell gray I so "eloquently" touted before the Mervyn Leroy Handicap is returning to, no doubt, redeem himself for a puzzling no-show effort. A fantastic field is lined up! Our Eyes: LAVA MAN has worked twice since finishing a no-excuse third in the Khaled. His best drill was on May 30. He powered by the wire with good run. He ran out to the bottom of the stretch in 1:13.60 and proceeded to run out seven furlongs in 1:26.40 and a mile in 1:39.00. He acts like he has another big race in him. 'ARTISTE' turned in a customary, professional Drysdale-style series over the Hollywood grass. His last few drills were done in company. He made up ground on competition both occasions. Nothing flashy. Honest. CHAMPS ELYSEES has looked better out of the Jim Murray. His last drill came on May 31. He traveled along at a steady pace: 24.80, 1:02.00, 1:14.60. His ears were pricked and the rider was not asking for a thing at the wire. Rock solid. And last, but certainly not least, we have MONZANTE. Since his flop as the chalk April 26, this guy has not shown one sign of weakness in the a.m. He continues to catch the eye with impressive drills. In his final drill on May 31, I had him galloping out a mile in 1:41.00 and the mile-and-a-quarter in 2:05.20. The Bottom Line: I have to give MONZANTE a mulligan. The best way to find value sometimes is to draw a line through a horse's last race. Well, that is what I am doing with MONZANTE. He has displayed too much ability in the mornings for me to throw in the towel off one bad effort. There is no question in my mind he will handle the distance. And today he is likely to go off at an overlaid number. That is the best time to go to the window. The pace will be set by the rabbit PLUG ME IN. 'LAVA' and MR. WOLVERINE will be stalking off him. 'ARTISTE' and WARNING ZONE will fall next in line and then MONZANTE and 'CHAMPS' trailing the pack. When the real running begins, I expect LAVA MAN to get his patented first jump. But in the final furlong, I foresee MONZANTE and 'CHAMPS' rallying strongly to fight it out for the win. MONZANTE gets the slight nod on the wire.
Get more handicapping picks, analysis and tools at Horseplayerpro.com!
|