HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP

Veteran Ashleyluvssugar will try nail down his first graded stakes win of the season—and extend an impressive streak—when he faces an expected seven other runners in the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) Nov. 23 at Del Mar.

The 1 1/2-mile race for 3-year-olds and up will provide 7-year-old Ashleyluvssugar an opportunity to earn at least one grade 2 win in a fourth consecutive season. The homebred Game Plan gelding for Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Stable has won the 2015 Charles Whittingham (G2T) and San Luis Rey (G2T) stakes, 2016 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) and Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T), and 2017 Charles Whittingham.

This year Ashleyluvssugar has not won in five starts but enters Friday's race off his strongest seasonal effort: a runner-up finish to Liam the Charmer in the John Henry Turf Championship Sept. 30 at Santa Anita Park. Ashleyluvssugar finished second to Texas Ryano  in the 2016 edition of the Hollywood Turf Cup.