Arklow, Say the Word Headline Hollywood Turf Cup

The $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) Nov. 27 at Del Mar attracted a full field of 12, plus two also-eligible entries, topped by grade 1 winners Arklow and Say the Word. Last year's winner, Oscar Dominguez (IRE), is also back to defend his title. Previously in the barn of Gail Cox at Woodbine, Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm's Say the Word will make his first start for Southern California-based trainer Phil D'Amato in the 1 1/2-mile feature for 3-year-olds and up on turf. The 5-year-old More Than Ready gelding is fresh off a breakthrough victory in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by Pattison (G1T) at his former Toronto base Oct. 18. He has worked three times at Del Mar this month, including a 1:00 move on the turf Nov. 15. Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Peter Coneway's Arklow will ship in from Kentucky for trainer Brad Cox. The 6-year-old son of Arch last ran sixth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland. One start earlier, he won his second Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs. Arklow's biggest victory came in the 2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. Also coming out of the Breeders' Cup Turf is Little Red Feather Racing, Gordon Jacobsen, and Philip Belmonte's Red King, who finished ninth. Another D'Amato trainee, Red King entered the Breeders' Cup off three consecutive wins, including the Aug. 22 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T) and June 21 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. D'Amato also entered The Ellwood Johnston Trust, Timmy Time Racing, and Ken Tevelde's Acclimate for his first start since finishing ninth in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf. Like his stablemate Red King, Acclimate is also a winner of both the Del Mar Handicap and San Juan Capistrano, scoring victories in 2019. Nancy Messineo and Bruce Sands' Oscar Dominguez seeks his first win since rallying to beat United by a neck in the Hollywood Turf Cup a year ago. The Richard Baltas trainee enters off a fifth in the Sept. 26 John Henry Turf Championship (G2T), won by United, at Santa Anita. "'Oscar' wants some speed to run at, but mile-and-a-half is his race," Baltas said. "He hasn't had a whole lot of pace to run at this year (0-for-5), but I think with some of the other horses in the race, it shouldn't be paceless. "Obviously, it's a very tough race, but 'Oscar' maybe can do it again at 7 years old. He's training great for it." Shipping in from trainer Graham Motion's base at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland will be Laccario (GER). The 2019 IDEE Deutsches Derby (G1) winner was second in his United States debut, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Oct. 3. North County Guy, Gregorian Chant (GB), Ward 'n Jerry, Proud Pedro (FR), Marckie's Water, and Another Mystery complete the main body of the field. Tartini and Fivestar Lynch (IRE) are also eligible.