BENSALEM, Pa. (Saturday, September, 25, 2021) - King Star Stable’s Hollywood Talent pulled off an upset while earning his first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 $300,000 Turf Monster. The 10-year-old gelding spotted the pace duel between Firecrow and Admiral Abe, both who sprinted away within the first quarter of a mile through fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 2/5.

Ricardo Santana Jr. then guided Hollywood Talent around the far turn before making a charge in the last eight of a mile to win by 1¼ lengths over Beer Can Man and covered the 5 furlongs in 59 seconds while paying $219.20 to win.

“The track was soft today, and he was travelling really good,” Santana Jr. said. “He was travelling beautiful, and I was really happy with him, when we turned for home and when I asked him the horse really responded well.”

Two years ago, Hollywood Talent finished third to at 44-1 to favorite Pure Sensation in the Turf Monster. Since then, Juan Vasquez claimed Hollywood Talent for $8,000 at Delaware Park on Sept. 23, 2020, which was also the last time the gelding had won a race.

"I am not surprised,” Vasquez said about the outcome. “I have been waiting for this race all year. He was third in the Monster (in 2019) and I knew I could win this race. There was a lot of speed in this race and I sent from behind and, really, felt very well. I liked it. I liked the soft ground.”

With the victory, Vasquez is considering the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

“I am very happy,” Vasquez said. “We might try the Breeders' Cup (Turf Sprint). He is a 10-year-old and I try to take care of him the best that I can”

QUOTES

Juan C. Vazquez winning trainer on Hollywood Talent (No. 11, $219.20) - "I am not surprised. I have been waiting for this race all year. He was third in the Monster (in 2019) and I knew I could win this race. There was a lot of speed in this race and I sent from behind and, really, felt very well. I liked it. I liked the soft ground. It rained a couple days ago and I liked the soft ground. I am very happy. I started to get excited when he got to the quarter pole and he was third and I saw the horses (in front fighting together) and I know he finishes very well. We might try the Breeders' Cup (Turf Sprint). He is a 10-year-old and I try to take care of him the best that I can." Ricardo Santana, Jr., winning jockey aboard Hollywood Talent (No. 11) - “The track was soft today, and he was travelling really good. He was travelling beautiful, and I was really happy with him, when we turned for home and when I asked him the horse really responded well. “A lot of people don’t know that I started with Juan Vazquez in 2012 at Delaware Park. I won my first, and I was riding everything for him, him and Ruben (Munoz), my agent. They brought me from Panama, and they signed my papers when I was 16 years old. I was riding everything for him. I’m really blessed to be with Juan Vazquez. Every horse I ride for him I have a shot.”