Annals of Time up in time in Hollywood Derby
Annals of Time headed a Chad Brown exacta in the $300,000 Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. Coming from the back of the field, Annals of Time swept past stablemate Beach Patrol inside the final sixteenth to notch his first career graded victory.
Blackjackcat took control of the pace from the gate, closely shadowed by longshot Defiantly. Free Rose and Beach Patrol took up third and fourth, followed by Frank Conversation, Path of David, Isotherm, and Camelot Kitten. Revved Up was fourth last, with Annals of Time, Hayabusa One, and Diplodocus bringing up the rear of the field.
On the lead, Blackjackcat was able to set a sensible pace, putting up the opening quarter in :23.83 and the first half :47.81. With three-quarters up in 1:12.03, there was no real change to the running order. The action began to ramp up, however, as the field entered the final turn. Defiantly moved off Blackjackcat’s flank to challenge for the lead, a move mirrored by Beach Patrol on the outside.
At the top of the stretch, Beach Control seized the lead. Frank Conversation tried to make a race of things down the center of the course, and Camelot Kitten attempted to put in a late run down on the inside. However, after weaving through traffic, it was Annals of Time that was finishing best of all.
Sweeping past Beach Patrol on the outside, Annals of Time drew clear and posted a 1 ½-half length victory in solid final time of 1:47.43 for the 1 1/8 mile event over Del Mar’s firm turf course. Beach Patrol held off Frank Conversation, third, by ½-length to save second, and Hayabusa One was another length back in fourth.
Free Rose, Blackjackcat, Camelot Kitten, Revved Up, Isotherm, Diplodocus, Path of David, and Defiantly completed the order of finish.
Off at 6-1 odds, Annals of Time paid $13.80, $7.00, and $4.60. Beach Patrol returned $5.20 and $4.00, and Frank Conversation, a 19-1 longshot, returned $10.60 for the show. The $1 exacta paid $31.60, the $0.50 trifecta returned $233.75, and the $1 superfecta was worth $3,274.80.
Winning jockey Javier Castellano was nothing but impressed with Annals of Time, who he rode for the first time today. “I tried to save ground as much as I could. I was covered up for most of the way,” he said about his trip.
“I give Mr. Brown (trainer Chad Brown) all the credit for shipping out a young horse like this – a horse making only his fourth start – and shipping him to the west coast and having him ready to run a race like this,” Castellano continued. “He was powerful. When I asked him in the stretch he put in a powerful kick. Very strong; very impressive. And he galloped out strong and straight. Distance will be no problem with him.”
Florent Geroux, who was aboard runner-up Beach Patrol, stated after the race, “I had a very good trip; right where I wanted to be. My horse ran well, but the winner was best. He’s a nice horse.”
By Temple City and out of the Distant View mare Lemon Haze, Annals of Time was a $80,000 purchase for owners Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William H. Lawrence. Breeder Monticule consigned the colt to the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. With today’s victory, the bay colt improved his record to 4: 2-1-1 for total purse monies of $289,000. Already graded stakes placed by virtue of a third place finish in the Hill Prince Stakes, the Hollywood Derby was the colt’s first significant victory.
Cherie de Vaux, assitant to Chad Brown, spoke on behalf of the stable due to Chad having a family obligation in New York. “He’s lightly raced, he had some minor issues to deal with before we could get him started, so he was the fresher of the three (Brown entrants),” she said. “Beach Patrol and Camelot Kitten have had really hard campaigns this year, they’ve been travelling and running very well. It’s important for us to get the lay of the land for Breeders’ Cup here next year.”
The Hollywood Derby was the first stakes win at Del Mar for both rider Javier Castellano and trainer Chad Brown.
No future plans for any of the Brown entrants were immediately available.