Majestic City Coasts Home in Proctor
Prohibitive favorite Majestic City did exactly what was expected, wiring four opponents in the $78,470 Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes Sunday at Hollywood Park.
Returning a little more than three weeks after a clever debut victory, the 2-year-old City Zip colt out of the Meadowlake mare It’schemistrybaby broke quickly from the inside under jockey David Flores and coasted to a comfortable 3 ½ length victory.
Completing the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.16, Majestic City, who is owned by Majestic Racing Stable LLC and trained by Peter Miller, paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as the 1-5 choice.
Purchased for $180,000 in March at a Florida sale, Majestic City has earned $75,570 for his two wins.
Truco Latino, a 23-1 shot who had finished seven lengths behind Majestic City in his initiation last month, completed the exacta. The son of Silver Train did so despite bearing out severely early in the stretch. He finished willingly beneath Agapito Delgadillo once he was straightened. The runner-up, who finished 9 ¼ lengths clear of the rest of the field, paid $6.40 and $3.20.
Joyzey Billy, making his first start for trainer Cliff Sise, Jr. after being purchased at the Barretts May sale by owners Bob Gunderson and Doris Johnson, returned $3 to show.
Completing the order of finish were first time starters Cast a Doubt and Anne’s Seven Cats. Swordsmanship was scratched.
“Relief. It actually is,’’ said Miller, explaining the feeling after winning with such a heavy favorite. “You think you want to be the favorite, and you do, but at the same time if he runs off the board I’m sneaking out of here.
He ran about the way I thought he’d run. I thought he ran about as well as he did the first time, just doing what David asked him to do. The plan is to run him in the ($100,000) Hollywood Juvenile (Championship July 17). I think he’s very good.
“The way he trains, he just does everything so easily. He’s never been outworked and never had a bad day. He seems to have more in the tank, so we’ll hope so.’’
The victory was the third in Proctor in the last five years for Miller, who had won previously with Thoroughly (2007) and Backbackbackgone (2008).
Jockey Rafael Bejarano tripled for the second consecutive day, expanding his advantage in the standings.
Through 33 days of the Spring/Summer meet, Bejarano has 40 victories, four more than defending champion Joel Rosario. Bejarano’s wins Sunday came atop Mighty Caroline in the second, Itssultryinthecape in the fifth and Bauble Queen in the seventh.