Sareen Family Trust's Om (Munnings)'s biggest claim to fame was being the first horse to beat Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in his second out graduation at Del Mar last summer, but now he makes his first attempt at the highest level in Saturday's GI Hollywood Derby as the morning-line favorite off a pair of graded stakes victories. Campaigned over all three surfaces, the chestnut has really found his calling in his last three starts on the turf, starting with a runner-up effort behind Prospect Park (Tapit) in the GIII La Jolla H. here Aug. 9. Besting that rival in the course-and-distance GII Del Mar Derby Sept. 6, the Dan Hendricks pupil was last seen wiring the GII Twilight Derby in Arcadia Oct. 24.
“The biggest thing about it is, you don't know if the horses shipping in are going to take to the course,” Hendricks. “With that many horses there can be troubled trips. But with our horse's running style, he figures to be forwardly placed and clear of it. We think it's going to set up well for him.”
The New York-based Chad Brown ships west with a quartet of contenders, including fellow native New Yorker Offering Plan (Spring At Last), who is the second choice on the morning-line. Owned by Michael Dubb, Nantucket Thoroughbred Partners, Bethlehem Stables LLC, et. al., the dark bay won a state-bred allowance on the Saratoga lawn Aug. 9 before finishing fifth in that venue's Better Talk Now S. Aug. 31. Victorious in Belmont's one-mile English Channel S. Oct. 25, he gains the services of Hall of Famer Mike Smith for this first try at nine furlongs.
Stablemate Fundamental (Arch), who carries the colors of Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, exits a fifth-place effort in the Bryan Station. An allowance winner going this distance over the lawn at the Spa Aug. 16, the gray finished second in Laurel's GII Commonwealth Derby Sept. 19 prior to his effort in the Bryan Station. Fellow Klaravich and Lawrence runner Money Multiplier (Lookin at Lucky) followed his fourth-out graduation on the Belmont main track May 3 with a runner-up effort in Delaware's GIII Kent S. July 18. A head second in the GIII Saranac S. at Saratoga Sept. 5, the dark bay was seventh last time behind stablemate Takeover Target (Harlan's Holiday) in Elmont's GIII Hill Prince S. Oct. 3.
Robert LaPenta's March (Blame) rounds out the Brown contingent. A dirt sprinter earlier in his career, the dark bay collected back-to-back wins in Aqueduct's GIII Bay Shore S. Apr. 4 and Belmont's GII Woody Stephens S. June 6. Sixth in Saratoga's GII Amsterdam S. Aug. 1, he filled the same position behind a sensational performance from subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Runhappy (Super Saver) next out in the Spa's GI King's Bishop S. Aug. 29. Switched to the turf last time, he finished fourth after a troubled trip in the English Channel.
Also making the trip from the Empire State is WinStar Farm's Closing Bell (Tapit). Second in Arlington's GI Secretariat S. Aug. 15, the Bill Mott trainee won the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs Sept. 14 and was a close second last time over a yielding course in Keeneland's Bryan Station S. Oct. 30.
Om's biggest threats from the California-based runners appears to come from a member of the fairer sex in GI Del Mar Oaks winner Sharla Rae (Afleet Alex). Trained by Doug O'Neill, the Brous Stable LLC, Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable runner followed that Grade I victory over this course and distance Aug. 15 with a fifth in Santa Anita's GI Rodeo Drive S. Sept. 26, and was a non-factor 10th in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf at Keeneland Oct. 31.
Other interesting California runners include two-time winner Chiropractor (Kitten's Joy), who takes a big step up from the optional claimer ranks off a close second going nine panels here Nov. 6. Twlight Derby second and third-place finishers Mister Brightside (Ire) (Lord Shanakill) and Royal Albert Hall (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) will take another crack at the favorite here.
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