By DRF.com
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ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2015) — He trains them. He owns them. And, sometimes, he even breeds them. Jerry Hollendorfer is a triple threat, best exemplified by Heat the Rocks, one of two fillies he will send out Saturday in the $200,000 California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita.
The Cal Cup Oaks, at one mile on turf, drew a field of eight 3-year-old fillies, with half the runners attempting turf for the first time. Included in that quartet is Hollendorfer’s duo of Heat the Rocks and Light One, both of whom figure to be strongly backed in the wagering.
By Unusual Heat, Heat the Rocks comes off a second-place finish in the one-mile Soviet Problem for statebreds at Los Alamitos, her first start beyond a sprint. Hollendorfer, who bred Heat the Rocks in a partnership, said her pedigree is a reason he wants to try her on turf.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Heat the Rocks. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 25-2-4-4 with a $0.65 ROI over the past five years with horses trying turf for the first time in routes following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“We think with the Unusual Heat angle, she’s supposed to like the turf, so we thought we’d have a go,” Hollendorfer said.
Hollendorfer takes an ownership share in many of the horses he trains, but he’s rarely involved in breeding runners.
“Not a lot, but there is occasion where we do breed some,” he said. “We dabble in it, but we’re not trying to make a profession out of it.”
Light One was privately purchased after a second-place finish in her debut. In her lone start since for Hollendorfer, she defeated maidens. Both those races were sprints on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields, so this will be her first start around two turns and on turf.
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KEY CONTENDERS
Heat the Rocks (Last 3 Beyers: 59-71-70)
◗ Her Beyer Figures had been steadily improving until her last start, which was her first try around two turns.
◗ Heat the Rocks worked on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 15, going five furlongs in 1:02.40. “I thought she worked decently,” Hollendorfer said.
Light One (Beyers: 67-69)
◗ Though she will be trying turf and two turns for the first time, her pedigree – she is by Comic Strip – suggests she’ll like it, and good form on synthetics often translates into good form on turf.
◗ Both her races were against open company, so even though she’s stepping up in class to run in a stakes race, she does benefit by moving into a race restricted to statebreds.
◗ The likely race shape should benefit her late-running style, provided she’s more than a late-running sprinter.
Sheer Pleasure (Beyer: 69)
◗ She was an impressive winner of her lone start, coasting home by 6 1/2 lengths in a sprint at Los Alamitos.
◗ Her trainer, Phil D’Amato, has a great return on investment ($4.15) with stretch-out plays.
◗ She could be the one to catch.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Sheer Pleasure. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 23-5-2-1 with a $5.84 ROI over the past two years going sprint to route on turf. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Patsy G and Me (Beyers: 55-55)
◗ As with Sheer Pleasure, she comes off a sprint win against maidens at Los Alamitos.
◗ Considering her running style and rail draw, she figures to contribute to a lively early pace.
◗ She is trying turf for the first time, but like Heat the Rocks is a daughter of Unusual Heat, so the surface switch should be beneficial.
Patsy G and Me is by Unusual Heat, out of the Exemplary Leader mare Lucky Spirit, was bred by Edward Tannenbaum & Bud Petrick, is owned by Tannenbaum and trained by Tim Yakteen. She is coming off a maiden win in her second start Dec. 19 with earnings of $25,876.
Singing Kitty is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Unbridled’s Son mare Natural Singer R N, was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is owned by Chris Aulds, Peter Jeong and Brandon Hillman and is trained by Matthew Chew. She has two wins in six starts, earnings of $65,438 and is coming off a seventh in the Jan. 1 Blue Norther.
Swiss Skimmer is by Swiss Yodeler, out of the Skimming mare Coastal Skimming, was bred by owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steven Specht. She has one win in eight starts, earnings of $41,103 and is coming off a maiden win Dec. 14.
Heat the Rocks is by Unusual Heat, out of the Tribal Rule mare Rockella, was bred by Jerry Hollendorfer, George Todaro, Gallop Out Racing and John Yee, is owned by Hollendorfer, Brett Tahajian and Todaro and is trained by Hollendorfer. She has one win in four starts, earnings of $90,160 and is coming off a second in the Dec. 7 Soviet Problem.
Sheer Pleasure is by Birdonthewire, out of the Blare of Trumpets mare Kathryns Birthday, was bred by Madera Thoroughbreds, is owned by Little Red Feather Racing and JR Riley Stables and trained by Phil D’Amato. She won her lone start Dec. 19 and has earnings of $25,200.
Light One is by Comic Strip, out of the Popular mare Light Whitening, was bred by Dr. & Mrs. William Gray, is owned by Gatto Racing, USA Thoroughbreds Racing, Gray, Gray et al and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. She has one win in two starts, earnings of $27,040 and is coming off a maiden win Dec. 27.
Tribal Express is by Lucky Pulpit, out of the Tribal Rule mare Tribal Fire, was bred by owners Albert & Kathleen Mattivi and is trained by Steve Knapp. She has one win in nine starts, earnings of $40,290 and is coming off a fifth in a Jan. 9 starter’s allowance.
Silver Starlight is by Marino Marini, out of the General Meeting mare Star’s Milennium, was bred by John and Diane Fradkin, is owned by Neil Haymes, Michael Ryan and Sterling Stables and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She is a maiden making her third start with earnings of $14,560.