Majestic City wins Hollywood Juvenile
July 17, 2011INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - Majestic City drew away in the final sixteenth of a mile to beat Brigand by 21/4 lengths and win Sunday's $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship on closing day of Hollywood Park.
Imponente Purse won the $100,000 Sunset Handicap and Bob Baffert won his first training title at the track's spring-summer meet, while Joel Rosario won the riding title.
Ridden by David Flores, Majestic City ran six furlongs in 1:10.45 and paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10. The 2-year-old colt is undefeated in three career races with earnings of $135,570.
Majestic City overcame some anxious moments in the paddock before the race.
"He got startled by the crowd in the paddock and he sucked back and lost his footing," trainer Peter Miller said. "He didn't flip over, but he kind of fell sideways. He got real antsy behind the starting gate, which he had never done before. So we've got more schooling to do with him, but the way everything is going, we're happy."
Brigand returned $4 and $2.20, while Night Tide was another 11/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.20 to show.
In the Sunset Handicap, Imponente Purse ran 11/2 miles on the turf in 2:26.65 to win by 13/4 lengths and snap a seven-race losing streak. Jockey Chantal Sutherland won her fourth stakes race of the meet.
Imponente Purse paid $7.60, $4 and $2.60. The 5-year-old has four wins in 19 career starts and earned $188,627.
Falcon Rock returned $5 and $2.80, while 3-2 favorite Celtic New Year was another 13/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.20 to show.