November 27 - Two geldings fought out a thrilling finish to the 2007 Hollywood Derby as the front-running Daytona held off a determined late surge from Medici Code. The good news for USA horse racing fans is that both horses should be back next season for many more battles.

Daytona was expertly nursed through the 10 furlong race by Mike Smith who is well known for his ability to win from the front. In the past he has piloted big-hearted racehorses like Lure, Holy Bull, and Azeri to similar victories.

Medici Code came into this race as the winner of the Del Mar Derby and for a moment it looked like he would add another important West Coast derby scalp to his resume, but it was not to be.

Bold Hawk, the winner of the Hawthorne Derby, did not enjoy the easiest of passages in the race and was not disgraced in finishing third.

Daytona is trained by Dan Hendricks, who is weelchair-bound and best known for his 2006 Derby horse Brother Derek. When Daytona won the Oak Tree Derby Hendricks switched jockeys going for Smith instead of the horse's regular rider Alex Solis. What's interesting about this is the fact that Smith and Solis are good friends and even business partners - they have gone into the wine business and their first bottles are due out next year.

It didn't look like there were any hard feelings at all between the two great jockeys as Smith bagged the Grade 1 win on Sunday.

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2012/04/02 06:42:37 AM