Hollywood Hit Returns To Winning Form At Woodbine

Hollywood Hit returned to the winner's circle at Woodbine for the first time since September, winning the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes on Wednesday night. Courtesy: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Hollywood Hit recorded his first win at Woodbine this season, and second win overall in 2011, with a three quarter length victory over Signature Red in Wednesday's Bold Venture Stakes. Hollywood Hit was just two tenths of a second off of the track record in the six and one half furlong sprint for three-year-olds and up.

A full field of nine went postward in the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes and to no one's surprise, Hollywood Hit and Essence Hit Man went toe-to-toe from the outside right out of the gate. The pair opened up a quick two length advantage on the remaining seven horses in the field, completing the opening quarter in 21.83.

Hollywood Hit would then sit back just a little bit along the backstretch, allowing Essence Hit Man to run on his own into the far turn. In that far turn, Hollywood Hit began to close, and took the lead on the outside of Essence Hit Man right at the top of the stretch, as the half mile time of 43.82 was posted.

In the stretch, there was no doubt that Hollywood Hit would win his first race at Woodbine since the King Corrie Stakes on September 22. He crossed the line in 1:14.76, just two tenths of a second behind Fatal Bullet's six and one half furlong track record of 1:14.54, set in the 2008 edition of the Bold Venture. Signature Red finished second, with Riding The River third and Essence Hit Man rounded out the superfecta in fourth.

"This horse was very, very sharp today. He's won races on the lead and he's won races coming from off the pace," said winning jockey Jim McAleney. "I was really hoping to get him to settle today. It was a little bit more of a job, but he did. It was a brilliant bunch of horses who were all on top of their game today."

Hollywood Hit recorded his second victory of the season in his third start after winning the Karl Boyes Memorial on June 22 at Presque Isle Downs. In 17 career starts, Hollywood Hit has now recorded nine wins and four second place finishes, and has earned $609,964. He paid $5.30, $3.30, $2.90, combining with Signature Red ($6.80, $4.20) for a $31.30 (9-2) exactor. A 9-2-7 (Riding the River, $6.20 to show) triactor was worth $353.90. The superfecta with Essence Hit Man paid $947.55.

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