Texas Ryano turns tables on Ashleyluvssugar in Hollywood Turf Cup

“I was sitting there loaded and I was smiling.” The moral of this Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup is to beware a smiling Joe Talamo. After finishing behind Ashleyluvssugar in four consecutive starts, the Carla Gaines trained Texas Ryano turned the tables and then some with a powerful 3 ¼-length win in the feature today at Del Mar. 

In a field shortened to six after scratches, Texas Ryano was sent off as the clear second choice at 2-1 in the 1 ½ mile turf race. Content to sit in fourth early behind a moderate early pace set by Royal Albert Hall, it was his rival, and 4-5 favorite, who tracked the front runner through moderate fractions of :24.60, :49.86, and 1:14.85. Ashleyluvssugar turned the pressure on, Talamo and Texas Ryano remained patient. 

Making his move on the far turn, Texas Ryano look a menacing presence at the top of the Del Mar lane. Moving powerfully on the outside, the five-year-old son of Curlin moved right up on his familiar rival with all the momentum in the world. From there, Texas Ryano quickly dispatched of Ashleyluvssugar early in the stretch and powered home a decisive winner in a strong final time of 2:27.92 over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. 

“Couldn’t have had a better trip,” added Talamo. “The only thing that concerned me was the fact that we were going slow and I didn’t want the favorite (Ashleyluvssugar, who was second for most of the trip) to slip away in the lane. So I was up closer and it worked out just right. He ran big.” 

Ashleyluvssugar, ridden by the Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, who is 27 years older than Talamo, gamely held off the rest, and finished more than a length better than the third choice Flamboyant, who won the three-horse photo for third over Power Foot and Quick Casablanca. The early pacesetter, Royal Albert Hall faded to sixth and last. 

Texas Ryano, owned by Warren B. Williamson, won for the fifth time in 18 lifetimes starts, while avenging the four consecutive losses behind Ashleyluvssugar. Those defeats came when seventh in the Eddie Read, third in the Del Mar Handicap, second in the John Henry Turf Classic, and most recent when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The victory also raised his career earnings total to $438,355. 

The winner returned $6.60, $3.20 and $2.10 across the board. The exacta over the heavy favorite paid $10.60, while the trifecta completed by Flamboyant was good for $41.80.