By Jarrod Horak
In this horse racing handicapping video, I analyze the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar using Today’s Racing Digest past performances.
Hollywood Derby field: 1 – Maaz (5-1), 2 – Friendly Confines (6-1), – Test Score (5-2), 4 – Salamis (9-2), 5 – Kokosan (20-1), 6 – Noble Confessor (Scratched), 7 – Copp (20-1), 8 – Tempus Volat (5-1), 9 – Tom’s Magic (7-2).
The Hollywood Derby (race 9) will be held at Del Mar on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Hollywood Derby Analysis
Maaz rallied to complete the exacta behind Test Score in the Twilight Derby (G2) last time and he earned a decent late pace rating that day. He is on the upswing for Michael McCarthy and he should save all the ground behind the speed under his winning rider Ricky Gonzalez.
Friendly Confines set the pace and settled for the place as the beaten favorite in the Let It Ride at one mile last time. He needs to find more stamina in this longer event.
Test Score had his 7-race trifecta streak come to an end when finishing an even 4th of 12 in the Nashville Derby (G3) on Aug. 30. He added blinkers in the Twilight Derby (G2) on Oct. 25 and he stalked the pace and scored by 1 1/2 lengths as the strong favorite. Juan Hernandez is 4-for-6 with Graham Motion and this Lookin At Lucky colt won three graded turf routes this year (G3 Transylvania, G1 Belmont Oaks, G2 Twilight Derby). He has a nice combination of tactical speed and finishing kick, and he sports two local works since his last.
Salamis looked good graduating as the favorite in a flat mile turf race at Saratoga on Aug. 8, and he improved his numbers in his four starts. I made him my top choice in the Gio Ponti at Aqueduct on Sept. 28 and he rallied to win that race as the favorite. He was stuck out in post 12 in the Bryan Station (G3) last time and Flavien Prat tried to move in but he ended up losing ground on the backstretch and was widest of all in the stretch, and he was 5th beaten two lengths in a respectable effort. Bryan Station show finisher Giocoso returned to win the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill on Nov. 22. Umberto Rispoli hops aboard Chad Brown’s colt and he might offer a hint of value.
Kokosan is still a maiden after six starts for John Sadler. He pressed the pace and missed by a half-length in a local maiden turf route last time.
Noble Confessor is scratched.
Copp split a 10-horse field in an allowance turf route at Keeneland on Oct. 25. He needs to elevate his game to compete with these.
Tempus Volat wore down Friendly Confines in the Let It Ride on Oct. 30. He should be forwardly placed under his winning rider Mirco Demuro.
Tom’s Magic was no match for Test Score in the Grade 3 Transylvania in the spring and that his only poor effort from seven outings (7 4-2-0). He won the Black Gold and Tale of the Cat on turf earlier this year, and he was second in the King’s Plate on all-weather ground on Aug. 16. He returned to turf and won the Breeders’ Stakes as the favorite at 1 1/2 mile on turf on Sept. 28 and runner-up Borealis Trail returned to take the Ontario Derby (G3) on Oct. 18. He projects an outside stalking trip under his new rider Antonio Fresu.
Hollywood Derby Video