How to bet the 2023 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes

A total of eight horses will travel 1 1/2 miles on the Del Mar lawn in Friday’s $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup S. (G2). The turf marathon attracted a talented and well-matched group in what appears to be a good betting opportunity. 

Turf Cup Wagers

• $12 win and place #3 Lukka ($24)
• $1 trifecta 3 with 1,4,8 with all ($18)
• $1 trifecta 1,4,8 with 3 with all ($18)

Chilean import #3 Lukka intrigues me while making his first run over U. S. sod for conditioner Neil Drysdale. By Lookin at Lucky, the multiple Group 1 hero has been a high-quality performer in both of his racing seasons to date and will be acclimated to the Golden State as he has been training here in solid fashion since early September. The four-year-old ridgling has never been off the board in his career, and the top pick has also been runner-up in both tries at today’s distance, with each coming at the Group-1 level. Ramon Vazquez will be in the silks. 

#8 Speaking Scout eclipsed the 2022 Hollywood Derby (G1) in his lone prior run at Del Mar for conditioner Graham Motion and will aim to snap his seven-race losing skid in this contest. The four-year-old has not yet built upon his excellent sophomore season in 2023, but he has also been running shorter trips and figures to thrive at 12 furlongs on Friday. Mr Speaker gelding rallied for a close third in the John Henry S. (G2) at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita in his latest showing and rates an obvious chance with improvement off of that performance. Top local pilot Juan Hernandez will be in the irons. 

Richard Mandella’s #4 Planetario might want even more ground to work with in order to reach his peak, but the Brazilian is consistent and wouldn’t be a surprise on this day, nonetheless. The multiple Group 1 victor was an even fourth in the John Henry most recently and will surely appreciate the added ground with regular pilot Hector Berrios in the silks. I expect the five-year-old son of Il Doge to make one run in the stretch. 

Peter Brant’s homebred #1 Francesco Clemente ran down a clear one in a smart allowance victory in New York in his second run in the states, and first with blinkers on, most recently. The well-bred son of Dubawi takes a big class hike in his West Coast debut, but he likes to win and I also envision the colt receiving a fine trip while saving ground all the way to the top of the lane. Umberto Rispoli will take the reins.