Betfair Hollywood Park Closing Weekend

It’s being dubbed as ‘Super Saturday’ this coming weekend at Betfair Hollywood Park, as July 13, 2013 will see a racing car that includes four big stakes races, including three graded-stakes events, highlighted by the American Oaks. The Oaks is a $350,000 Grade I race for three-year-old fillies going 1 ¼ miles on the turf. Last year’s winner, Lady of Shamrock, went on to finish fifth in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Filly and Mare Turf, beaten by only 2 ½ lengths by French star Zamora.

A Gleam winner racing for Breeders' Cup spot

Also on tap for Saturday is the $200,000 Grade II A Gleam Handicap for older fillies and mares at a distance of seven furlongs on the Cushion track. The A Gleam is a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for automatic qualifying to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The early favorite for the A Gleam is Include Me Out, who has been assigned high weight of 123 lbs. The five-year-old Kentucky-bred has a record of seven wins from 14 lifetime starts, and finished third in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic.

Dhaamer trying to defend Sunset title

The other big stakes events on Saturday are the $150,000 Grade III Hollywood Juvenile Championship, and the $150,000 Landaluce. Sunday is the final day of racing at Hollywood, and will feature the traditional closing event, the $100,000 Grade III Sunset Handicap, 1 ½ miles on the Turf. Grade I winner Marketing Mix will attempt to become only the third female to capture the event, and the first since 1990. She’ll be looking to upset defending champ, Dhaamer, who will be trying to become only the second horse to win the Sunset twice.