INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 14, 2008) - Chilean-bred marathoner Porfido, second in the San Luis Rey and third in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap, will carry high weight of 119 pounds when he meets seven rivals in Saturday's second running of the $75,000-added Round Table Handicap at Hollywood Park.
The 6-year-old horse - winner of the 2005 Chilean Derby - was beaten less than a length in the 1½-mile San Luis Rey, then finished third in the 1¾-mile San Juan Capistrano. He will travel 1¾ miles for the second time in the Round Table, which will be contested on the Lakeside Turf Course.
Porfido, a winner of seven of 13 starts in Chile, has won once in 15 North American starts while running mostly in graded stakes races. His victory came early this year in an allowance race on grass at Santa Anita Park. He has earned a race-high $456,658.
The son of Mash One will have to contend with 2006 Hollywood Turf Cup winner Boboman and eastern shipper Transduction Gold in the Round Table, which will line up as follows from the rail out:
Papanonie, with Jose Valdivia Jr. up, carries 113 pounds; Top This and That, Alex Solis, 114; Wild Buddy, Joel Rosario, 113; Porfido, David Flores, 119;
Transduction Gold, Richard Migliore, 117; Boboman, Brice Blanc, 118; Cedar Mountain, Alonso Quinonez, 114, and Marsh Side, Mike Smith, 116.
Boboman capped a three-race win streak in the 2006 Turf Cup, but has failed to win in six starts since then. The 7-year-old finished third in the Bay Meadows Handicap while making his most recent start in April. He is four-for-16 lifetime with earnings of $439,758.
Transduction Gold, shipped west by owner-trainer-breeder John Glenney, won the Sycamore last fall at Keeneland and finished second while making his most recent start in the Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs. Both races were at 1½ miles on turf.
Overall, the 5-year-old has won four of 19 starts for earnings of $276,603.
Papanonie was a wire-to-wire winner while traveling nine furlongs in his last turf outing; Top This and That finished fourth here in the TVG Khaled Stakes opening weekend; 9-year-old Wild Buddy set the pace in the 2006 San Juan before tiring and finishing fifth; Cedar Mountain scored an impressive allowance win at 1½ miles in his last start, and stablemate Marsh Side switches back to turf following a sixth-place finish in the Berkley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.
The Round Table will run as the eighth of nine races on Saturday's program at Hollywood Park. First post is at 1:20 p.m.
