Hollywood Walks strolls to victory in Andy Guest
When longtime Virginia breeder R. Larry Johnson unexpectedly passed away earlier this year, many in racing wondered what would become of his regionally powerful stable.
You can find the answers to that question in winner’s circles seemingly everywhere. Horses running in Johnson’s familiar black-and-white silks and the name of the Estate of R. Larry Johnson have won more than a dozen races and earned over $900,000 thus far in 2025.
The latest: Hollywood Walk snuck up the rail today under jockey Mychel Sanchez to win the 5 ½-furlong Andy Guest Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Colonial Downs.
It was the sixth time Sanchez had ridden Hollywood Walk, but the first time he got the money with her.

“I’m really happy that I finally got to win, because I got a couple seconds and thirds with her, and she’s got a lot of heart,” Sanchez said. “She always gives you everything she has.”
The ultra-speedy Bosserati showed the way early in the Andy Guest, leading by a length after an opener in 22.40 seconds and maintaining that advantage inside the furlong grounds. But she was tiring by then, and the closers were revving up.
Favored Mrs. Gambolini, off at 7-10, had to tip wide to make her run, but Sanchez was able to save ground around the turn, cut the corner, and squeeze through to Bosserati’s inside to the lead.
“I had the right trip that I wanted,” Sanchez said. “When the two pushed me out a little, I went back to the spot I wanted. From the three-eighths, she was game. I mean, she saw the opening, and she was just running.”
Mrs. Gambolini closed fast but too late, settling for second, while Cart Girl Sam was third. Bosserati faded to fourth.
Hollywood Walk returned $19.00 to win. The exacta with the favorite underneath returned $23.90 for a one-dollar wager.
A six-year-old Animal Kingdom mare, Hollywood Walk has won six races in her career. Four of them – in four successive years – have come at Colonial Downs.
“She likes it here,” laughed Tana Aubrey, assistant to trainer Mike Trombetta. “It’s her home. It’s where she grew up.”
Hollywood Walk has won six of 26 career starts. The winner’s share pushed her earnings to more than $450,000.
Hollywood Walk is out of the Street Sense mare Walk of Stars. That makes her a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Mindframe – the best horse Johnson bred in a breeding operation that began with a $2,500 castoff mare.
“He’s up there smiling right now,” Aubrey added. “I guarantee it.”
NOTES One race later Witty flew from last to first to win the Van Clief Stakes. Jaime Rodriguez was in the irons for the popular Pennsylvania-bred, a homebred for trainer Elizabeth Merryman. Witty is a half-brother to the Breeders’ Cup-winning turf sprinter Caravel…
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