“He ran in a fast trial and trained super between trials and finals,” said winning trainer Heath Taylor. “I really can’t explain the odds, looking at the program I thought he was a five or six-to-one shot and had a really good chance to light the board.”
With his first win in a graded stakes, Wagon to Hollywood improved his career record to four wins from 10 starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $104,739 with the $61,320 winner’s share. It was the third win in the Dash for Cash Derby for trainer Heath Taylor, Swingin Jess (2008) and Jess a Little Bit More (2007).
Wagon to Hollywood paid $65.80, $28.60, $9.60; runner-up Zoomandkicken returned $4.20, $2.60; and Eyes Blew by You paid $2.60 to show. Texas Icon, Run Naked, Cocopata, Freighttrain B, Down Rite Royal, Kool County Man and Jess Scared money completed the order of finish.
Earlier this season, Wagon To Hollywood, posted the third fastest time of :19.842, a 106 speed index, in the Retama Park Derby trials. Last summer, the PYC Paint Your Wagon colt finished second in the $210,000 Firecracker Futurity. However, he was placed last by the Delta Downs stewards for interference in that race.
Bred by Mike and Heath Taylor, the brown colt out of Hollywood La Jolla, by Streakin La Jolla, is trained by Heath.
Taylor is also the trainer of fourth place finisher, Texas Icon...a stakes runner all season. He set the fastest time to the Grade 1, Heritage Place Futurity earlier this year. Texas Icon is bred and owned by Jerry Windham.