By Alan Carasso
Hudson Ridge (American Pharoah) carries a baby two-race winning streak into Sunday's GIII La Jolla H. at Del Mar, the second of two-lead up races for the GII Del Mar Derby Sept. 4.
The bay colt has yet to run a poor race going two turns on the grass and nearly got the job done going a mile at Santa Anita May 1, missing by a neck while dead-heating for the plce spot with next-out maiden scorer No Foolery Here (Carpe Diem). Encouraged by Abel Cedillo, trainer Bob Baffert entered Hudson Ridge in the May 23 Cinema S. going nine panels, and the colt responded with a 1 1/4-length defeat of the re-opposing Sword Zorro (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The 9-5 chalk for a first-level allowance in Arcadia June 18, Hudson Ridge bested Flashiest (Mizzen Mast) by 1 1/4 lengths, the form of which was franked when the latter returned to upset the opening-day Oceanside S. July 16. No Foolery Here was beaten a neck into third.
Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) tries the turf for the first time Sunday afternoon. Having finished second to GII West Virginia Derby favorite Mr. Wireless (Dialed In) in an Oaklawn maiden back in March, the chestnut graduated the following month and most recently carried Jose Ortiz to a 4 1/2-length upset of the Iowa Derby July 2. The gelding was purchased by Steve Moger for $420,000 at last month's Fasig-Tipton Horses of All Ages Sale and is out of a mare that posted a record of 3-1-4 from 11 starts on the turf.
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