Sat Jun 28 20:46:45 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Mast Track leads all the way in Hollywood Gold Cup

---

Inglewood, CA (Sports Network) - Lightly regarded Mast Track went wire-to- wire in winning Saturday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park. Ridden by Tyler Baze the four-year-old covered the 1 1/4 mile race in 2:01.37.

Mast Track, owned and trained by Bobby Frankel, took the lead out of the gate and took the field around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch. Running in second was Pimlico Special champ Student Council with McCann's Mojave in third and 2-1 favorite Go Between along the rail in fourth.

Baze and Mast Track continued to lead the field through a slow pace up the backstretch and into the far turn. Around the final turn Mast Track kept his advantage over the field. Coming out of the turn Mast Track had a two-length lead with Go Between making a move on the inside.

At the top of the stretch Mast Track maintained his advantage over the eight challengers. Go Between, ridden by Garrett Gomez, moved off the rail to mount a final rally.

Mast Track proved too much for Go Between and the rest of the field as he posted a 2 1/2 length victory in the 69th Gold Cup. Go Between finished second while Student Council held on for third and McCann's Mojave was fourth.

Heatseeker, the original 7-5 morning-line favorite, was scratched on Friday from the race due to swelling in his left front ankle.

Mast Track is the first winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup not named Lava Man since 2004. Lava Man, who won the previous three renewals of the race, was being held back from running by trainer Doug O'Neill after a third place finish in the Charles Whittingham Handicap three weeks ago. The gelding is expected to return to competition at Del Mar this summer.

Mast Track won his first graded stakes with the Hollywood Gold Cup and earned $450,000. He has now won five of 10 career starts for $614,622 and notched his third win in the last five starts.

Saturday's start was a rare main track appearance for Mast Track. He was coming off a fifth place finish in the Shoemaker Mile on the turf and has seven lifetime starts on grass.

Mast Track returned $23.60, $11.20 and $7.40. Go Between paid $3.40 and $3.00, and Student Council paid $4.00 to show.