HOLLYWOOD PARK STABLE NOTES

Friday, May 19, 1995

By Vince Bruun & Ed Golden

COCOONING TO TEST THE BIG BOYS IN HOLLYWOOD TURF HANDICAP

When owner/trainer Sam Aldabbagh claimed Cocooning for $10,000 on July 13, 1994, he never dreamed he would one day enter the gelding in a Grade I race worth $500,000.

That's exactly what is about to happen, though, as Aldabbagh siad Friday he intends to run the 6-year-old son of Saros in the $500,000-guaranteed Hollywood Turf Handicap (Gr. I) on Monday, May 29.

"After what he did in the last race, who wouldn't consider it?" Aldabbagh said. "And the best thing is, he came out of the race like he had just walked through it."

The race to which Aldabbagh referred was a $60,000 allowance event on May 1. Breaking from the far outside, Cocooning took the early lead and never looked back while winning the 1 1/8-mile grass event in a respectable 1:46 4/5 under Sal Gonzalez Jr. It was Cocooning's third win in four starts over the local turf course and offered proof that perhaps Cocooning is more than just a gutty old claimer, as in his wake were three Grade or Group 1 winners: Celtic Arms, Raintrap and Alex The Great.

Overall, Cocooning has started 48 times with 14 wins, seven seconds, nine thirds and $238,113 in earnings.

"I know the field in (the Turf Handicap) is going to be tough," Aldabbagh said. "But believe me, if he runs like Cocooning can, he'll give em hell."

In Turf Handicap developments Friday:

Trainer Richard Mandella sent leading active money-earner Best Pal and Talloires to the track for workouts. Best Pal worked one mile in 1:40 1/5, handily, on a firm turf course (dogs up), getting the last quarter in :25 1/5. Talloires, one of three Mandella horses headed for the Turf Handicap, also worked a mile on the turf in 1:40 1/5, handily.

Saltgrass, one of two Rodney Rash-trained runners headed for the Turf Handicap, drilled three furlongs in :38 1/5, handily, on a fast main track.

Trainer Walter Greenman said Savinio works Sunday and will run in either the Turf Handicap or the $150,000-added Shoemaker Handicap (Gr. II) on June 10.

Hector Palma indicated Inglewood Handicap winner Blaze O'Brien also will run in either the Turf Handicap or the Shoemaker, with Corey Black to ride.

Richard J. Cross, meanwhile, said Earl Of Barking will run in one of four races: the Hollywood Turf Handicap, the Shoemaker, the $150,000-added American Handicap (Gr. II) July 4, or the $500,000-guaranteed Caesars International Handicap (Gr. I) at Atlantic City June 25.

And trainer Neil Drysdale said neither Beneficial nor Silver Wizard will run in the Turf Handicap. Beneficial will be pointed to the $75,000-added Bo Derek Stakes on June 2, and Silver Wizard might surface in an allowance event.

Probables for the 27th running of the Hollywood Turf Handicap, to be decided at 1 1/4 miles: Best Pal, Chris McCarron; Celtic Arms, Eddie Delahoussaye; Cocooning, no rider; Del Mar Dennis, Chris Antley; Liyoun, G. F. Almeida; Saltgrass, no rider; Sandpit, Corey Nakatani; Talloires, Kent Desormeaux; Vaudeville, Gary Stevens, and Wandesta, Pat Day.

Possible: Blaze O'Brien, Corey Black; Earl Of Barking, no rider, and Savinio, no rider.

PIRATE'S REVENGE READY FOR SHOWDOWN WITH PASEANA

Two of the main combatants expected for the $100,000-added Hawthorne Handicap (Gr. II) on May 28 worked seven furlongs on the main track Friday. Sidney Craig's two-time Eclipse Award-winner Paseana was clocked in 1:27, handily, while Martin and Pam Wygod's razor-sharp Pirate's Revenge was timed in 1:26, handily.

Trainer Ron Ellis, noting that Pirate's Revenge has yet to win a graded event, said he hopes to receive at least six pounds from Paseana when weights are announced Tuesday.

"Paseana has been training very well (at Hollywood Park)," Ellis said. "But we really don't have anywhere else to go with (Pirate's Revenge). We just hope the weights are fair."

In her most recent start, the restricted $107,000 Miss Hollywood Park Stakes on April 29, Pirate's Revenge cruised to a 9-length victory in a quick 1:41 4/5 for 1 1/16 miles. Overall, the homebred 4-year-old filly has started 15 times with seven wins, four seconds, one third and $328,125 in earnings.

Confirmed for the 22nd running of the Hawthorne, to be decided at 1 1/16 miles on the main track: Angi Go, Gary Stevens; Paseana, Chris McCarron; Fit To Lead, Kent Desormeaux, and Pirate's Revenge, Chris Antley.

CAESAR'S KING OF THE HILL WITH 2-YEAR-OLDS

If you asked trainer Caesar Dominguez for his idea of a lollypop fastball the answer would probably be, "Maiden claimer for 2-year-olds, at 4 1/2 furlongs, please."

Dominguez, who has a staggering 30 juveniles housed in his 40-stall stable here, struck again Thursday, sending out first-time starter Ebony's fast Play for a romping 6 1/2-length victory in the second race, a maiden $40,000/$35,000 claiming event for 2-year-old fillies. The Fast Play filly ran 4 1/2 furlongs in :51 3/5 under Chris Antley.

It was already the third victory by a Dominguez-trained 2-year-old at the meeting.

"There are two very important months for my stable," Dominguez explained. "The first is September, because of Pomona (Fairplex Park), which is traditionally our biggest meeting, and the yearling sales at Keeneland.

"And the other important month is May, when the baby races start. My clients aren't big-time operators and it's crucial for us to have success early. If we can win some early ones, the owners can make a profit and still have money for the sales."

What do most Dominguez babies have in common? They're carefully chosen from the bargain rack at the sales.

"The ones we can afford to buy, maybe the horse isn't (physically) correct, but the body is there, the bloodlines aren't half-bad, and, most important, the price is right."

Of the three 2-year-olds Dominguez has sent to the winner's circle, Desert Native, who scored in a special weight event May 11, cost the most at $25,000. "It's the most I've ever paid for a yearling," Dominguez said.

The other winners, Type Ryder and Ebony's Fast Play, cost $9,500 and $7,500, respectively. In other words, they've already earned more than their sales price.

And in the case of Desert Native and Ebony's Fast Play, Dominguez said he's already entertained substantial offers from interested buyers.

"Desert Native's by Roanoke, a first-year stud. Type Rider's by Criminal Type, a first or second-year stud. Ebony's Fast Play is by Fast Play, a first-year stud," Dominguez said. "We simply can't afford the Alydars of the world. But I can afford to take a chance and buy something from a son of Alydar for $10,000.

"If you know what you're looking for, and aren't afraid to take chances, you can make do with a lot of 2-year-olds," Dominguez said. "And listen, you haven't even seen my best ones yet. I've got some horses who have worked faster than the winners."

SEMILLON ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL

One of last year's most promisng French imports -- Lady White's Semillon -- has resumed serious training for Mike Mitchell and is nearing a return to action.

Thursday, Semillon worked six furlongs in 1:14, handily on the main track under Eddie Delahoussaye.

"He worked great and Eddie (Delahoussaye) siad he felt great , which is the biggest key," Mitchell said. "You know what he can do. It's not like you don't know if he can run or not. He didn't get that tired."

In 1994, Semillon won three races at Santa Anita including the restricted San Marino Handicap, and was beaten just a neck while finishing second to Horse of the Meeting Grand Flotilla in the Grade II Sunset Handicap at Hollywood.

"This (workout) was three-quarters, so I've got two more seven-eighths works to put under his belt (before the $150,000-added Shoemaker Handicap on June 10). I think that will be all he needs.

"I never really turned him out, believe it or not, all this time (Semillon had been sidelined with suspensory problems since the Arlington Million last August). I've had him in here, I've tack-walked him and kept him busy while we've been healing his leg. So it's not like I turned him out in some pasture and he got big and fat on me."

Mitchell did send Semillon to D. Wayne Lukas' Westerly Stud for a time, but it was a working visit. "We tack-walked him there for 45 days and in between I sent him to Farrell Jones' farm to aqua-tread, and that was after he'd had a couple of works," Mitchell explained. "So I never really turned him out and like I said, I never really let him down. He should be ready to go."

Mitchell said Semillon came off the track from Thursday's workout "just playing and kicking his heels up. I haven't really seen him wiped out yet from any of his workouts."

Mitchell, whose stable is domianted by claiming horses, said Semillon and an unraced 3-year-old colt are his two best horses at present, are both are almost race-ready.

"I have a half-brother to Prized named Turbulent Dancer who's going to run on June 4," Mitchell said. Turbulent Dancer is owned by Lord White, while Semillon is owned by Lady White.

Turbulent Dancer was purchased for $80,000 at the Barretts Sale last year. "I liked his breeding and I liked the way he looked," Mitchell said. "He's a Gate Dancer so I backed off on him and brought him along slowly. He had a few minor problems, and mentally they're kind of tough horses to work with. But he's a good horse and he is ready to run.

"It's exciting to have a couple of good horses to go along with the claiming horses."

SPECIAL GOLDEN GATE POST TIME SATURDAY

Due to the simulcast of the Preakness Stakes, Saturday's post time at Golden Gate Fields has been moved forward 45 minutes to 12:30 p.m.

Also, first post time for Friday racing at Golden Gate Fields will be 5 p.m. through the end of its meeting on June 26.

FINISH LINES: Neil Drysdale said Will Rogers Breeders' Cup Handicap winner Via Lombardia is doing well and is being pointed to the $100,000-added Cinema Handicap on June 3 . . . Lilly Capote, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Gary Stevens, scored a head victory over Broad Smile in Thursday's $62,150 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Lilly Capote ran six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 on a sloppy track and paid $4.20 . . . Trainer Howard Zucker, who sent out Salsa Dancer to win Thursday's feature race, celebrates his 47th birthday Saturday . . . Former trainer John Russell turned 59 Friday . . . Agent Bob Meldahl said Corey Nakatani has the call on Juddmonte Farms' Sleep Easy for trainer Bobby Frankel in the $100,000-added Railbird Stakes (Gr. II) May 27 . . . Friday's prominent works: At Hollywood (clear & fast) -- Houston Sunrise, :47; Journalism, :48 3/5; On Target, 1:11 4/5. (Turf/firm/dogs up) Powis Castle, :37 3/5; In Character, 1:00 1/5; Alex The Great, 1:13 3/5. At Santa Anita (clear & fast) -- Golden Klair, :36 4/5.