Published Monday, November 24th, 2025 (3 days ago)

Test Score Stays on the West Coast for the Grade I Hollywood Derby

By Jasmine Torrez

Test Score | Benoit Photo

Test Score, who has raced mostly in derbies around the East Coast, stayed west for trainer Graham Motion to take a shot in the Grade I $300,000 Hollywood Derby going one and one eighth miles on the turf. Saturday's Hollywood Derby is part of FanDuel Racing Turf Festival for closing weekend at Del Mar 

A last out winner of the Grade II Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on October 25, Test Score was fourth in the Grade III Nashville Derby going a mile and five-sixteenths at Kentucky Downs in August. Earlier that month he tried for his second Grade I victory in the Saratoga Derby Invitational where he finished third by a half-length. The Lookin At Lucky colt overcame a less-than-ideal start in the Belmont Derby to earn Grade I status by one and a quarter lengths at a mile and an eighth at Saratoga. A millionaire homebred for Amerman Racing, Test Score is 11-4-3-2 with $1,448,525 in earnings and will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

Tempus Volat, winner of the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar on October 30, will try to earn his first graded stakes victory for Leonard Powell. He broke his maiden in his second start since transferring from the Asmussen barn in gate to wire fashion in a Maiden Special Weight on August 30. Following that victory, he stepped up to an Optional Claiming race where he was third three lengths behind Maaz who is also entered the Hollywood Derby. Tempus Volat, never worse than third in his last four starts going a mile, is owned by Sondereker Racing. He comes into the Derby with a record of 6-2-1-2 and $142,058 in earnings. He will have regular rider Mirco Demuro aboard. 

Friendly Confines, runner up in the Let It Ride Stakes, will look to improve on a record of 5-2-2-0 for trainer Richard Baltas. Friendly Confines will be trying a mile and an eighth for the first time and will have a new rider in the bid for his first stakes victory in Hector I. Berrios. A $82,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase, Friendly Confines is owned in part by her trainer, John Ford Racing, Debby Baltas, and Vivian Li.

Field of nine in post-position order: Maaz, Ricardo Gonzalez 122; Friendly Confines, Hector I. Berrios 122; test Score, Juan Hernandez 122; Salamis, Umberto Rispoli 122; Kokosan, Armando Ayuso 122; Nobel Confessor, John Velazquez 122; Copp, Kazushi Kimura 122; Tempus Volat, Mirco Demuro 122; Tom’s Magic, Antonio Fresu 122. 

First post time for an 11-race card is 11:30 AM, admission gates open at 10:30 AM. The Hollywood Derby is slated as the ninth race with an approximate post time of 3:30 PM.