A Gleam Handicap – Ultra Bend up against Shotgun Gulch and Bob Baffert’s deadly trio for Breeders’ Cup glory
The Grade 2 $200,000 A Gleam Handicap will attract a strong line-up of fillies and mares at Hollywood Park on 16 July. The winner of the 7 furlong event will earn a spot in the Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on 4 November at Churchill
Downs.
Moreover, the winner of the 7 furlong A Gleam will receive a travelling allowance for the November 4th event worth $10,000 and get the Breeders’ Cup entry fees waived off.
The Nels Erickson owned five-year-old filly, Ultra Bend, is also among the fillies and mares for the A Gleam Handicap.
The filly’s recent outing was at Hollywood Park, where she bagged the 1 1/16 mile Grade 2 Milady Handicap after the disqualification of St Trinians.
Trained by Art Sherman, Ultra Bend will have the distance cut back at seven furlongs for A Gleam Handicap, who would be a strong contender to win the seven furlong event come 16 July.
The California-bred bay landed her second stakes win of the spring/summer meet when she won the Grade 2 Milady Handicap. She is on a hot streak, winning five of her last six stakes races.
Overall Ultra Bend impressed with stats of 10 wins out of 21 career starts, with four wins running on a Cushion track on the trot, with the massive earnings of $625,646.
The daughter of Thunder Gulch, Shotgun Gulch will be facing Ultra Bend and seven other fillies and mares in the A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park.
The four-year-old chestnut filly has a Grade 1 win under her belt that came at Keeneland on 14 April, 2011, in the Vinery Madison Stakes for four-year-old and beyond fillies and mares.
For Keeneland, Shotgun Gulch was sent off at 11 to 1 odds over the Poly track, but this time around she is back at synthetic surface.
The Grade 1 Humana Distaff was Shotgun Gulch’s last outing on a synthetic surface, she finished fifth.
The four-year-old chestnut filly has a life time record of seven wins out of 18 starts, with earnings of $488,309.
Champion trainer, Bob Baffert, has been producing winners coast to coast this season, as he springs his trio at Hollywood Park for the A Gleam Handicap.
American Story, Fund Raiser and Irish Gypsy will be among the entrants.
Bob Baffert has had a fantastic season with seven stakes win and thirty four wins over all.
Owned by Warren Williamson and trained by Carla Gaines, Mildly Offensive will be shot out into the race for her first start over Cushion Track.
The recent winner of Santa Paula at Santa Anita, Sharp Humor will also be among the entrants.
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