TWILIGHT RACING SATURDAY;
BACK-TO-BACK 14-RACE CARDS
Hollywood Park, after discussions with the Thoroughbred Owners of California
and the industry's fan committee, presents back-to-back 14-race cards this weekend,
with a special twilight card beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The 14-race cards are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Post times for the
weekend follow:
Friday 7 p.m. 9-race card
Saturday 4 p.m. 14-race card
Sunday 1 p.m. 14-race card
"We want to experiment by offering our races when the majority of fans are
available to see them," said track chairman R.D. Hubbard. "The fan committee
overwhelmingly endorsed this idea."
The fan committee, formed in 1993 as part of the California Horse Racing
Industry Coalition, is made up of volunteers who are racing enthusiasts having no
employment or economic connection with the industry. The committee acts as a
"sounding board" and as a focus group which generates ideas and proposals.
SMALL STILL HAS BIG PLANS FOR CONCERN IN GOLD CUP
Concern, who won The Californian with consummate ease at Hollywood Park
last Sunday, is doing well back at his Maryland headquarters, trainer Richard Small
reported via telephone Thursday morning.
"He came back great," Small said of Robert Meyerhoff's 1994 Breeders' Cup
Classic winner. "There's a real good chance we'll come back for the (Hollywood) Gold
Cup (July 2). The race (Californian) was pretty easy on him and it didn't take much out
of him."
Concern won The Californian by 2 3/4 lengths, taking the lead at the six-furlong
mark in the nine-furlong race, which was completely out of character for his late-running
style.
Meyerhoff said after the victory he had never seen the colt take command at
such an early point, adding that Concern had never been in front at the head of the
stretch in any of his previous 24 races.
Richard Mandella said he "didn't have a good excuse" for Best Pal's fourth-place
finish, but that the all-time active money leader came out of the race in good shape and
Mandella was "still thinking about the Gold Cup."
Paco Gonzalez said Del Mar Dennis was "on course" for the Grade I event at
1 1/4 miles after the gelding worked six furlongs Tuesday in 1:13 1/5. Santa Anita
Handicap winner Urgent Request was scheduled to work a mile Friday morning, trainer
Rodney Rash said.
Expected for the 56th running of the Hollywood Gold Cup: Concern,
Tossofthecoin, Tinners Way, Best Pal, Let's Be Curious, Del Mar Dennis, Urgent
Request and Blumin Affair.
Trainer Gary Jones, asked if he had any prospects for the Gold Cup, quipped,
"I don't even have any horses for the Bronze Cup."
SPECIAL MONDAY PROGRAM FOR `RACING FROM HOLLYWOOD PARK'
"Racing from Hollywood Park" will present a full hour of replays Monday night,
8 to 9 p.m., on KDOC, Channel 56.
The special program will show all the races from Sunday's card, plus any of
Saturday's races that are not aired Sunday night due to time constraints.
Friday night's races will air Saturday night from 8 to 8:30 p.m., while Saturday's
races, as many as time permits, will be shown Sunday night from 8 to 8:30 p.m.
Hollywood Park's weekend schedule begins Friday night at 7 p.m., followed by
back-to-back 14-race cards on Saturday (first post time 4 p.m.) and Sunday (first post
time 1 p.m.).
LOCALS EYEING RICH CAESARS INTERNATIONAL
Weights for the first half of the "Caesars Double" -- the $500,000 Caesars
International Handicap at Atlantic City on June 25 -- have been released by Atlantic City
Race Course Director of Racing Edward W. Vomacka.
Red Bishop, winner of the Grade I San Juan Capistrano Handicap, and Sandpit,
winner of the Grade I San Luis Rey Stakes, have been named 122-pound
co-highweights for the Caesars International Handicap, a Grade I event at 1 3/16 miles
on turf.
Other locals weighted include: River Flyer, 119; Celtic Arms, 118; Dare And Go,
118; Romarin, 118; Vaudeville, 118; Hollywood Turf Handicap winner Earl of Barking,
117; Alex The Great, 116; Blues Traveller, 116; Eagle Eyed, 116; Raintrap, 116;
Tinners Way, 116; Urgent Request, 116; Wekiva Springs, 116; Square Cut, 115;
Bluegrass Prince, 114; Fadeyev, 114; Beneficial, 113; Kazaibaiyn, 113; Opera Score,
113; Talloires, 113; Torch Rouge, 113; Wandesta (f), 113; Red Earth, 111, and Sismart,
111.
The mare Possibly Perfect, unbeaten in her last five starts, drew 117 pounds,
which, on the scale of weights, puts her at 122, or equal with Red Bishop and Sandpit.
The Grade I Caesars International will be simulcast at Hollywood Park and is the
first half of a two-race series that concludes with the $250,000 Caesars Palace Turf
Championship at Hollywood Park on July 22. A horse that sweeps both events earns
$750,000 total, which equates to a $312,500 bonus.
BLUES TRAVELLER MIGHT BE RETIRED TO STUD
Blues Traveller, a multiple graded stakes winner of $742,052, might have made
his swan song as a racehorse in last Saturday's $200,000 Early Times Manahattan at
Belmont Park. Blues Traveller, who was beaten a nose by Awad in the Grade II event,
is being considered for a stud career in New Zealand, trainer Rodney Rash said.
"The syndicate that bought half of the horse (from Gary Tanaka) early this year is
going to meet in the next few days and make a decision," Rash said. "I can't say for
sure, but my guess is that he's headed to New Zealand."
A 5-year-old Irish-bred by Bluebird, Blues Traveller's triumphs include last year's
Grade II All American Handicap at Hollywood Park and the Grade II Bay Meadows
Handicap at Bay Meadows.
FINISH LINES: Steward Pete Pedersen reported Eddie Delahoussaye has taken off his
mounts through Sunday. The Hall of Fame rider complained of abdominal pains . . .Slew of
Damascus, 1994 Hollywood Gold Cup winner, was scheduled to work at Golden Gate Fields
Friday morning, but is not likely to compete in the $100,000-added Triple Bend Handicap at
Hollywood Park on June 24. "He'll work five eighths and go out six furlongs," trainer Craig
Roberts said of the Tennessee-bred gelding. "We'll make a decision after he works, but right
now I don't think he'll go there." . . . Mike Rutherford's Lakeway had her first breeze Thursday
morning since returning to Gary Jones' barn last month after several months off recovering
from lung problems. "She's doing good," Jones said. "She took the work like nothing. She never
broke a sweat." Arthur Martin was aboard for the drill, which clockers timed in :36 1/5,
handily. Jones added that Honeymoon Handicap winner Auriette, upset as the 2-5 favorite in
Monday's second race at one mile on the turf, came back well. "It's obvious to me that she
(Auriette) needs more distance, but you can't take anything away from that other filly (Royal
Vale)," Jones said . . . Charlie Whittingham sent 1994 Kentucky Derby runner-up Strodes
Creek three furlongs in :36 4/5 . . . Pirate's Revenge, a candidate for the $150,000-added Milady
Handicap (Gr. I) on June 25, went six furlongs on Hollywood Park's firm turf course (dogs up) in
1:15 1/5 for Ron Ellis.
It was father vs. son for the first time as trainers in Thursday's sixth race at Hollywood
Park. David Hofmans was scheduled to send out Ridder Thoroughbred Stable's Harbinger,
while son Grant was due to put the saddle on Hitbound Stable's Noble Rogue. "We knew this
race was coming up," David said. "I don't know who's going to win, but I hope I do." Hofmans
added he is pointing the filly Raw Gold, an impressive maiden winner, to the $100,000-added
Landaluce (Gr. II) at six furlongs on July 8 . . . Nancy Arnold, wife of former Los Alamitos
harness racing operator Lloyd Arnold, died Sunday at the couple's Palm Springs home after a
lengthy battle with cancer. She was 62 . . . Corey Nakatani will be at Thistledown Saturday to
ride Dazzling Falls in the $300,000 Ohio Derby (Gr. II). To make connections to Cleveland,
Nakatani planned to take off his final two mounts Friday night . . . Soviet Problem breezed four
furlongs on the turf in :47 1/5 Wednesday morning for Saturday's $100,000-added Valkyr
Handicap. Chris McCarron was up for trainer Greg Gilchrist. Gilchrist returned to Northern
California following the workout, but was scheduled to return in time to saddle Tac Squad in
Friday's eighth race. Soviet Problem is stabled at John Sadler's barn . . . Trainer Wesley Ward
said Unfinished Symph is scheduled to ship to Saratoga on July 27 . . . Bobby Frankel, the
meet's leading trainer, has 17 victories and only four seconds . . . Congratulations to Gary Jones,
who celebrates his 51st birthday Friday. Jones ranks eighth all-time in Hollywood Park wins,
452, and sixth in stakes wins, 56 . . . Phil Sturman, a long-time usher in the clubhouse section,
suffered a heart attack Wednesday afternoon, but was reportedly on the road to recovery at
Kaiser-Permanente Hospital in Hollywood.