Del Mar: How to bet the Hollywood Turf Cup Nov. 26

An accomplished group of seven turf stayers will travel 1 1/2 miles on the Del Mar lawn in Friday’s $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (G2). Six in the cast have achieved prior graded stakes success in the deep and well-matched field.

I liked #7 Rockemperor some in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and will keep the faith with the Chad Brown trainee. The five-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor has faced top foes since arriving in the states with some decent results, though the five-year-old stepped it up a notch when having blinkers removed and rolling home a fine winner of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park two prior.

The bay boasts a big turn of foot and will likely receive a swift pace to rally into while making his second run on the course. In the Breeders’ Cup, Rockemperor didn’t have the greatest of voyages, but he drew well outside of this field to ensure a sensible trip on Friday. Flavien Prat picks up the mount aboard my selection.

Grade 1 winner #3 Say the Word was a close third in the race in 2020 and had a nice prep when a closing fifth in the Del Mar H. (G2) in his latest venture. The Phil D’Amato trainee has compiled a 5-2-2-1 mark at the distance, and while the son of More Than Ready is winless on the surface, he has run well here. Late runner will have Kent Desormeaux in the silks.

Del Mar H. upsetter #4 Astronaut didn’t fire in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but the dark bay colt has shown improvement since stretching out to marathon distances, and the son of Quality Road is also proven on the oval. Lightly raced Kentucky-bred has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in three straight and rates a winning chance with Victor Espinoza in the silks.

And a top-three case can be made for John Henry Turf Championship (G2) runner-up #2 Friar’s Road, Grade 3 winner #5 Cupid’s Claws, San Juan Capistrano S. (G3) hero #6 Acclimate, as well as Charles Whittingham S. (G2) victor #1 Award Winner.

Hollywood Turf Cup Wagers

• $10 win and place #7 Rockemperor ($20)
• $2 trifecta key 7 with 3,4 with all ($20)
• $1 trifecta key 7 with all with 3,4 ($10)