Hollywood Gold Cup not just a boys' club

If this is, indeed, the year of the female in horse racing, as Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta have been showing, then Life Is Sweet could further that premise Saturday in the 70th Hollywood Gold Cup.

The last time a female won this prestigious race was 1968, when Princessnesian crossed first. Two others preceded her: Happy Issue in 1944 and Two Lea in 1952. No filly or mare has even tried since 1981, when Kilijaro ran seventh.

Life Is Sweet, a 4-year-old owned by Pam and Marty Wygod and trained by John Shirreffs, drew the 10th hole Wednesday and will take on the largest field for a Gold Cup since 1972, when Quack beat 13 others.

This $700,000 race, which has been won by the likes of Seabiscuit, Affirmed, Native Diver and Lava Man -- the latter pair three times each -- will be run at a mile and a quarter and will be the eighth race on an 11-race program at venerable Hollywood Park.



http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-hollywood-gold-cup9-2009jul09,0,255441.column

Is that likely to be the last Hollywood Gold Cup? Gotta wonder. I've been wondering if Rail Trip would step up and be something special; it looks like he has a chance to be so, and that was an impressive win. Life is Sweet came from way back to get the show spot.