2-year-old American Lion takes Hollywood Prevue

Nov 22, 2009 - 2:21 AM INGLEWOOD, Calif.(AP) -- American Lion rallied from third at the top of the stretch to win Saturday's $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes for 2-year-olds at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Julian Leparoux, who flew in from Kentucky to ride the colt, American Lion was behind the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Macias and Indian Firewater coming out of the turn. He sped to the front under Leparoux's urging and held off Get My Fix by a half-length.

The heavy favorite covered seven furlongs in 1:22.49 in just his third start, and paid $3.40, $2.80 and $2.60. Get My Fix paid $10.80 and $7.80, and Seattle Ruler paid $6.80 to show.

American Lion, a son of Tiznow trained by Eoin Harty, was second in his debut at Arlington Park in September, then won by 6 1/2 lengths in his second start at Keeneland in October. The colt earned $60,000 for Saturday's win for a career total of $95,600.

The Hollywood Prevue is considered a prep race for next month's $750,000 CashCall Futurity, a stakes that often establishes early contenders for the Kentucky Derby.