Hollywood Harbor, Top Juvenile Male of 2009, and undefeated Forener top the list of nine 3 year olds nominated to the $50,000 Auburn Handicap on Sunday, May 23.

Hollywood Harbor (5-3-1-0-$70,501) was brilliant last year while winning three stakes ranging from 5 ½ furlongs to one mile. The son of Harbor the Gold returns to Emerald Downs following a ninth-place finish in the Harry Henson stakes on turf last month at Hollywood Park, and the chestnut gelding appears ready going six furlongs in 1 minute, 10 4/5 seconds Sunday morning for trainer Chris Stenslie.

Forener (3-3-0-0-$29,700) seems to have picked up right where he left off last year. The Lost Soldier gelding cruised to a 1-¾ length victory over allowance foes in 1:03 for 5 ½ furlongs on April 17, and he did defeat Hollywood Harbor by two lengths in their only match-up last year. The latter race was the career debut for both runners, and Hollywood Harbor did overcome a slow start while finishing second.

Hollywood Harbor and Forener figure to garner the headlines, but Posse Power and Boundtogetbusy are intriguing possibilities. Posse Power (7-2-2-2-$68,440) finished third in the El Camino Real Derby, Grade 3 and eighth in the Santa Anita Derby, Grade 1, while trainer Frank Lucarelli won the 2008 Auburn Handicap with Fear No Evil.

Boundtogetbusy (4-2-2-0-$21,900) is the younger brother of the stakes winner Bound to Be M V P, and the Snowbound gelding was extremely impressive, running 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02 1/5, while winning his local debut April 25.

At 6 ½ furlongs, the Auburn is the first of five stakes event for sophomores in 2010. The highlight is the $75,000 Emerald Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 15, which is three weeks earlier than last year, and makes it possible to wheel back in the Aug. 22 Longacres Mile, Grade 3.