INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2008) - Jockey Garrett Gomez used similar tactics to sweep the co-features at Hollywood Park on Wednesday aboard New Zealand-bred Royal Taat and Irish-bred Kyniska.
Royal Taat rallied to prevail by a nose in a three-horse drive to the wire in a $42,000 optional claimer, while Kyniska came from behind to score by a neck in a $40,000 allowance event.
Royal Taat, trained by John Sadler for Doubledown Stables, won for the second time in three U.S. starts while traveling six furlongs on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:08.93. The 4-year-old boosted her earnings to $67,593 with the winner's check of $25,200 and paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.10 as the second choice in a field of five fillies and mares. Christiana's Head returned $3.80 and $2.20, while the show payoff on favorite Pretty Carina was $2.10.
Kyniska, making her U.S. debut, made her winning move on the outside in the stretch. She covered 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42.48 while paying $3.60, $2.60 and $2.40 as the odds-on favorite in the field of seven fillies and mares. Tripped the Light returned $2.60 and $2.20, while the show payoff on Rollerskates was $6.20.
Kyniska, trained by Bobby Frankel for Peter Bradley, won one of four European starts and also had a second and a third in two Group 3 races. The 3-year-old banked $24,000 to raise her earnings to $73,318.
Gomez was one of three jockeys with a multiple-win day. Victor Espinoza led the way with three wins, while Martin Garcia also rode a pair of winners - both longshots.
He connected on Just Go Gusto ($25.20) and with Joe'sgirlisgolden ($28) to set the stage for a Pick Six carryover of $67,116 . Trainer Caesar Dominguez also played a big role in the carryover, saddling Just Go Gusto and Thelma Rose ($7.20) in the nightcap as tickets were alive to four other horses.
