THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER

Vacare, a 5-year-old daughter of Lear Fan, put the finishing touch on her stellar career by winning her 8th race in 14 lifetime tries Sunday in the Grade 2 Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park.  The win marked her final trip to the race track as it was announced after the race that she would be retired and not brought back for a 6-year-old campaign.

Vacare was sent off as the post time favorite and saved ground through much of the trip while In My Glory got out to a quick start from the 11 hole.  Gotta Have Her was also tracking In My Glory nicely in the early going.  As the field turned for home it looked for a moment like Vacare might need racing room, but jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. found a spot just to the outside and then sent her for her final drive to the wire. 

Once she dug in and made her bid for the wire, her class took over and she was clearly the best of the field.  The win improves her lifetime earnings to $1,213,706 for her career.  The win was also trainer Christophe Clement’s 1000th of his career.  Gotta Have Her and In My Glory finished 2nd and 3rd behind her. 

In an ironic twist of fate, the trainer of the horse the race was named for, Dahlia, passed away yesterday as well.  Maurice Zilber, age 88, passed away from complications with cancer on Sunday.

With the running of the Dahlia, the curtain has closed on Hollywood Park’s winter fall/winter meet.  How many times that curtain will rise again is anyone’s guess.  Like every track across the country, handle and attendance were down – most likely as signs of a struggling economy continue to show themselves in every aspect of life.  Hollywood itself is on a tenuous plan to be demolished and turned into a real estate development project.  As of right now there is another meet scheduled that begins in April of 2009.  Beyond 2009 still remains a big mystery for many.