THUNDER GULCH IS THE 3-5 CHOICE
TO PREVAIL IN TALENTED SWAPS FIELD
Thunder Gulch might suffer from an identity crisis -- he isn't even the most publicized 3-year- old in trainer D. Wayne Lukas' stable -- but he certainly has earned the respect of Hollywood Park morning line maker Russell Hudak, who has made the son of Gulch a prohibitive 3-5 choice in Sunday's $500,000 Swaps Stakes.
"The horse came within a length of winning the Triple Crown, which automatically makes him one of the greatest of all time," Hudak said. "In fact, that's about as close as a horse has come to winning the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978."
Lukas, meanwhile, isn't complaining about Thunder Gulch having to spot his six opponents from six to 14 pounds. Thunder Gulch will carry 126 pounds under the rules of the race, which are based on how many races and how much money horses have won.
"It's understood that when you've got a big wallet, you get a big impost. That's something we just have to accept," he said. "From a trainer's standpoint, I'm more concerned about the horse being mentally sharp. Sometimes, after a horse hasn't raced for a while, it takes them a race to get back their mental sharpness. I just hope I have him ready for the race mentally.
"I'm very happy from a physical standpoint. To me, he has matured and his strength level is better than it was in the Triple Crown. One of the things you have to remember is this horse wasn't
3 years old when he ran in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He didn't turn 3 until May 23. He's firmed up and hardened up since then. Physically, he's super."
DAZZLING FALLS DAY AT AKSARBEN
If people can act provincially toward baseball, football and basketball teams, then why can't they be "homers" when it comes to their favorite local horse?
At least that seems to be the logic at AKsarben, where Sunday has been designated as "Dazzling Falls Day," in honor of Nebraska-bred Dazzling Falls, who will take on Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch and six others in the $500,000 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park.
AKsarben will simulcast the race, but in addition, the first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive free five-minute collectible calling cards featuring color photos of Dazzling Falls. And the Omaha, Neb., track also will offer reduced prices on admission, programs, hot dogs, soft drinks and beer.
"And for the grand finale, after Dazzling Falls beats Thunder Gulch, we'll have a special toast for him," said Don Lee, a public relations assistant at AKsarben.
HENNESSY HEADS MONDAY'S JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP
The team of trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens will have more at stake this weekend than Thunder Gulch in the Swap Stakes.
The two also will join forces in the final stakes race of the season -- Monday's $100,000-added Hollywood Juvenile Championship for 2 year olds. It's a race Lukas has won four times, most recently in 1990 with Deposit Ticket.
In Monday's race, Lukas sends out the the probable favorite in Robert and Beverly Lewis' Hennessy. A $500,000 yearling, Hennessy needed two starts to break his maiden, but he did it in style. The Storm Cat colt romped by six lengths on July 2, running five furlongs in :57.
"Hennessy has improved a lot, " Lukas said. "The fact that my horses usually improve in their second start is well-documented, but the maiden win was impressive.
"I'm a little out of touch with him," added Lukas, who has spent most of the spring and summer in the East and Midwest. "But this is a pretty solid little 2 year old and I think he'll make a good showing."
Last year, Lukas, Stevens and the Lewises combined to finish second in the Hollywood Juvenile with the filly Serena's Song.
SWAPS, VANITY LIVE ON KCAL-TV SUNDAY
Hollywood Park and KCAL-TV (Channel 9) will present live telecasts Sunday of the $300,000- added Vanity Handicap and the $500,000 Swaps Stakes, featuring Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch.
The show, entitled "Hollywood Park Live!," will air from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and be hosted by Channel 9's sports anchor, Gary Cruz. In addition to calling the races, Hollywood Park track commentator Trevor Denman will serve as racing analyst, while Bret Lewis will work as roving reporter on the telecast.
Two-time Eclipse Award winner Paseana will seek to become the all-time North American filly/mare money winner in the Grade I Vanity Handicap.
In addition to the $85,000-added Khaled Handicap being shown, there will be features on Sid and Jenny Craig, owners of Paseana, and jockey Gary Stevens, regular rider of Thunder Gulch.
Actor Kato Kaelin also will appear on the show.
CARDMANIA IN PUBLIC FAREWELL SUNDAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
Jean Couvercelle's 1993 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Cardmania, whose retirement was announced Thursday by trainer Derek Meredith, will be paraded in his farewell appearance before Sunday's fifth race at Hollywood Park.
The 9-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Cox's Ridge will lead the post parade for the fifth race, the $85,000-added Answer Do Stakes.
Cardmania, who also won an Eclipse Award as outstanding sprinter of 1993, will be retired to the United Pegasus Ranch in Mira Loma. He started 76 times in his career, winning 16, with 12 seconds, 19 thirds and earnings of $1,516,663.
Cardmania finished third in his final start, the $100,000-added Los Angeles Handicap at Hollywood Park on April 18.
SHULMAN NEARS TITLE
Trainer Sandy Shulman began Saturday with a 23-21 lead over Bobby Frankel in the trainers' standings. Defending champion Ron McAnally was just three shots off the pace with 20 wins.
Only three days remained in the meeting but Shulman wasn't taking anything for granted. He remembered too well what happened in 1994, when McAnally won two races on closing day and leapfrogged over Shulman for a 25-24 lead and the title.
"It's a very precarious lead," said Shulman. "It's a lead I saw vaporize in no time flat last year, so I'm certainly not counting my chickens yet."
Saturday figured to be a key day for the 58-year-old Shulman. He had four horses entered on the program -- including Jahafil in the $250,000-added Caesars Palace Turf Championship -- while neither Frankel nor McAnally had any horses entered on the 10-race card.
NAKATANI BY OPEN LENGTHS
While the trainers race figures to go down to the wire, there is no such drama in the jockeys race. Corey Nakatani began Saturday with a commanding 26-win lead, 80-54, over Alex Solis and had locked up his first title at Inglewood.
There has been nothing fluky about it, either. In addition to the most wins, Nakatani is also far and away the leading stakes rider at the meet, holding a 10-5 lead over Chris McCarron and Solis in that category. In addition, Nakatani has had 22 multiple-win days at the meeting, including four four-win days, eight three-win days and 10 two-win days.
The title is Nakatani's third major Southern California championship in the last year. He also won the 1994 Del Mar title with 51 wins and the 1994 Oak Tree title with 30 wins.
FAN APPRECIATION DAY MONDAY
Hollywood Park will offer Fan Appreciation Day on Monday, closing-day of the successful 67-day meeting. One lucky fan can win a 1995 Ford Mustang, while dozens of other fabulous prizes will be awarded to patrons attending Hollywood Park. Fans must be present to win.
The $100,000-added Hollywood Juvenile Championship for 2-year-olds is the closing-day feature. First post time for the 10-race program is 1 p.m.