Del Mar: Salamis prevails in Grade 1 Hollywood Derby

Salamis dug in deep down the stretch to give Chad Brown a stakes double, winning the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby by a neck going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Breaking from post 4 in a field of eight, Umberto Rispoli kept Salamis (3-1) in the clear, sixth up the backstretch about six lengths off the lead. Coming to the turn for home, the pair linked up with favorite Test Score (4-5) and Juan Hernandez, who traveled to their inside in fifth.

Tom's Magic (4-1), who traveled in fourth about a length off the pace, swung out three wide coming down the stretch and put his head in front in the last sixteenth of a mile but got outkicked by a rolling Salamis in the final furlong to finish second by a neck. Test Score lacked racing room behind Tempus Volat and pacesetter Kokosan in the stretch, found an opening in the final sixteenth of a mile and got up for third by 1 1/4 lengths over Tempus Volat.

"We had a nice chat this morning. Chad Brown was pretty straightforward, which was to pump him out of the gate. Don't be afraid, let him settle. Come around with your right side clear," Rispoli said. "I worked on him out of the gate. I was a little bit worried with the slow pace, but I know Chad's horses always have a nice turn of foot."

The victory gave Brown a record fifth Hollywood Derby win.

A Juddmonte homebred, Salamis improved his record to 7: 3-0-2 and increased his earnings to $353,363. He paid $8.20, $6.60 and $2.60.

"This horse is talented, and I knew he could get there," said José Hernandez, assistant trainer to Brown. "He's been running well in his last three races. He's been training well at Keeneland and at Del Mar. He deserved to win this race."

Tom's Magic, who finished full of run for trainer Michael Stidham, returned $9.20 and $3.00. Test Score, trained by Graham Motion, paid $2.10.

Fractions went in 24.14, 49.92 seconds, 1:15.18 and 1:39.20 for a final time of 1:50.74.