HOLLYWOOD PARK STABLE NOTES

Sunday, November 19, 1995

By Vince Bruun

CARESS TO TAKE SHOT IN THE MATRIARCH
Flamingo, white and black, the official colors of the Harbor View Farm and the unofficial colors of the $700,000 Matriarch (Gr. I).

Harbor View Farm (Louis and Patrice Wolfson), you will remember, campaigned the champion Flawlessly, who won the 1991, '92 and '93 Matriarchs. And it is Harbor View who campaigns Caress, whose record might not be as flawless as the great Flawlessly's, but is good enough to make her a contender in next Sunday's 15th running of the Matriarch. The Matriarch is the climactic event of the $2-million Turf Festival here.

A 4-year-old Strom Cat filly out of the Affirmed mare La Affirmed, Caress has won 10 of 19 starts and $429,310. Racing exclusively in the East, Caress has faced primarily Gr. III competition. Her triumphs include the Beaugay Handicap (Gr. III) at Aqueduct and the Poker (Gr. III) and Just A Game Handicaps at Belmont Park. Most racently, she rallied for a one-length victory in the $117,000 Suffolk Handicap at Belmont Park.

Caress will mark the first Turf Festival start for 66-year-old Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens. Jerkens -- a.k.a. "Giant Killer" -- saddled Handsome Boy to upset Buckpasser in the 1967 Brooklyn Handicap; beat Kelso three times with Beau Purple, and twice defeated Secretariat: with Onion in the 1973 Whitney and Prove Out in the 1973 Woodward.

Probables for the 15th running of the Matriarch, to be decided at 1 1/4 miles: Angel In My Heart, Cash Asmussen; Bail Out Becky, no rider; Balanka, no rider; Caress, no rider; Duda, no rider; Matiara, no rider; Morgana, Gary Stevens; Sleep Easy, no rider; Wandesta, Corey Nakatani; Windsharp (s), G. F. Almeida; Bold Ruritana (s), Todd Kabel, and Alywow (s), no rider.

Possible: Alpride, Chris McCarron; Flagbird, no rider; Jo Knows, no rider, and Twin Bet, no rider.

FASTNESS DRILLS FOR CITATION HANDICAP
Evergreen Farm's Fastness worked seven furlongs in 1:29 2/5, handily, on a firm turf course (dogs up) for Saturday's $300,000 Citation Handicap (Gr. II). Gary Stevens was up for trainer Jenine Sahadi.

Fastness, one of the country's top grass horses, has always performed well over the local course. He finished a close fourth in the Grade I Hollywood Derby in 1993 and romped in a pair of allowance races.

Probables for the Citation Handicap: Celtic Arms, Pat Valenzuela; Earl Of Barking, G. F. Almeida; Fastness, Gary Stevens; Johann Quatz, no rider; Romarin, Kent Desormeaux; Royal Chariot, Alex Solis, and Silver Wizard, Chris McCarron.

Possible: Labeeb, no rider, and Lost Soldier (s), no rider.

P. VAL PICKS UP THE MOUNT ON SHEMARAN
Patrick Valenzuela, who is scheduled to resume riding Thursday, has picked up the mount on Gary Tanaka's Shemaran for trainer Rodney Rash in the $400,000 Hollywood Derby (Gr. I) on Nov. 26.

Valenzuela, 33, hasn't ridden in nearly three months. He was suspended in early August for failure to fulfill riding engagements here in late July, and not appearing at a subsequent stewards' hearing.

According to steward David Samuels, Valenzuela's suspension was completed on Sept. 13, and the rider is clear to resume his career.

Helmsman, an Irish import, made his North American debut in the Grade III Volante Handicap at Oak Tree on Nov. 5. In that one, Shemaran lagged far back early and closed belatedly to finish fifth.

Valenzuela has ridden in one previous Hollywood derby, finishing 11th on Cigar in 1993.

Probables for the 55th Hollywood Derby: Da Hoss, Corey Nakatani; Green Means Go, no rider; Hawk Attack, Kent Desormeaux; Helmsman, Chris McCarron; Lake George, Corey Black; Mr Purple, no rider; Oncefortheroad, Danny Sorenson; Perfect, Laffit Pincay Jr.; Petit Poucet, no rider; Score Quick, G. F. Almeida; Tabor, no rider; Via Lombardia, Eddie Delahoussaye; Our Gatsby (s), no rider; Shemaran (s), Pat Valenzuela, and Virginia Carnival (s), Alex Solis.

KING OF THE HEAP MIGHT JOIN CAST FOR GENEROUS STAKES
King of the Heap, who made a favorable impression with a strong second to Cobra King in the $75,000-added Sunny Slope Stakes at Oak Tree, is a possible starter in the $250,000 Generous Stakes (Gr. III) for 2-year-olds on Nov. 25.

"He's going to work on the turf Sunday, and if he works really well, he'll run," trainer Blake Heap said. "We've wanted to try him on turf, and this might be the time."

King of the Heap, a Kentucky-bred by Allen's Prospect out of the Topsider mare Well Padded, has raced just twice, both times on dirt. He broke his maiden at first asking Oct. 8 at Oak Tree, running six furlongs in 1:10 3/5, and then returned three weeks later to run a good second to multiple stakes winner Cobra King in the Sunny Slope. Cobra King, one of the most highly-regarded juveniles on the West Coast, ran the six furlongs in 1:09 flat and won by 1 1/2 lengths.

King of the Heap was purchased for $75,000 at the Barretts April sale by Having Some Fun Racing Stable, Nancy Rice and Wesley Ward.

If King of the Heap starts, he will race coupled with Strangelove, who is owned and trained by Ward.

Probables for the Generous: Red Shadow (s), no rider; Old Chapel (s), no rider; Blushing Richard (s), no rider; Strangelove (s), Chris Antley; Ayrton S, no rider; Cruzin West (a), no rider; Heza Gone West (a), no rider, and Never To Squander, no rider. (a, Randy Bradshaw-trained entry.)

Possible: King Of The Heap, Martin Pedroza.

BOLD N' FLASHY BACK FOR ANOTHER CRACK AT TURF EXPRESS
It's been three years since we last saw Bold N' Flashy -- he dead-heated for fifth in the 1992 Hollywood Turf Express -- and a lot has happened since then. Most of it good. The Canadian-bred has gone on to win 10 of 39 starts and $377,926 for owner Terra Farm and trainer Deborah England.

Now 6, Bold N' Flashy has come back to Hollywood Park for Friday's $200,000 Turf Express (Gr. III) at 5 1/2 furlongs. Although he's blessed with speed, Bold N' Flashy has the knack for finding trouble in a race, particularly at the break. According to assistant trainer Declan O'Brien, it's a problem that's caused the son of Bold Ruckus his share of races.

"He just has very bad racing luck," O'Brien said. "And that, of course, is tough for a sprinter. One mistake, and it's over.

"I don't know why, but things just always happen with him. But if he gets a good trip, without all of his usual bumps and bangs, he'll run a helluva race."

Probables for the Hollywood Turf Express: Pembroke, Kent Desormeaux, 121; Distinctive Hat, Laffit Pincay Jr., 118; Cyrano Storme, no rider, 116; Powis Castle, Gary Stevens, 115; Lakota Brave (s), Alex Solis, 115; Bold N' Flashy, no rider, 114; O'Martin (s), no rider, 113; Silver Kite (s), no rider, 113; Comininalittlehot (s), no rider, 113; Sharp Point (s), no rider, 112;

Bold N' Flashy, no rider; Cyrano Storme, no rider; Distinctive Hat, no rider; Pembroke, Kent Desormeaux; Powis Castle, no rider; Uncaged Fury, no rider; Cominalittlehot (s), no rider; Lakota Brave (s), Alex Solis; O'Martin (s), no rider; Sharp Point (s), no rider, and Silver Kite (s), no rider.

ANTLEY PICKS UP MOUNT ON ANTESPEND
Chris Antley, who finished second in the 1994 Miesque Stakes on Miss Union Avenue, has picked up the mount on supplemental nominee Antespend for trainer Ron McAnally in Friday's '95 running.

Trainer Bill Mott, meanwhile, will attempt to win the Miesque with Platinum Blonde. Mott saddled Bail Out Becky to a victory in last year's Miesque.

"She did win a Canadian Grade I," Mott said of Platinum Blonde. "I do think she is graded stakes quality. However, I wouldn't say she is top class."

Probables for the Miesque, a Grade III event at one mile on turf : Canta's Crusade, Eddie Delahoussaye; Gastronomical, Kent Desormeaux; Antespend (s), Chris Antley; Colcon (s), no rider; Jade Hawk (s), no rider; Like A Hawk (s), no rider; Majestic Dream (s), no rider; Miss Mercedes (s), no rider; Platinum Blonde (s), no rider; Slide By (s), no rider, and Wheatly Special (s), Alex Solis.

SMALL FIELD TAKING SHAPE FOR THURSDAY'S BARRERA
Score Quick worked seven furlongs in a bullet 1:26 1/5, handily, on a fast main track Sunday morning, and trainer Mel Stute said he was now leaning toward running the Morvich Handicap winner in Thursday's $100,000-added Lazaro S. Barrera Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Stute, however, still hadn't ruled out running Score Quick in next Sunday's $400,000 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby (Gr. I).

Confirmed for the 15th running of the Lazaro S. Barrera: Spingold, Corey Black, 115; Farofino, no rider, 113, and Adams Trail, Alex Solis, 113.

Possible: Lake George, Corey Black, 119, and Score Quick, G. F. Almeida, 118.

FINISH LINES: Alphabet Soup will ship to Louisville, Ky., for Friday's $200,000- added Clark Handicap (Gr. III) at Churchill Downs. Chris McCarron will have the ride for trainer David Hofmans . . . Jockey Rene Douglas will be at Churchill Downs Saturday to ride Birr in the $150,000-guaranteed Golden Rod Stakes (Gr. III) for trainer Elliott Walden . . . Juddmonte Farms' Eltish has arrived at trainer Bobby Frankel's barn. The Cox's Ridge colt, runner-up to Timber Country in the 1994 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, had been campaigning in England . . . Morgana worked seven furlongs in 1:28 1/5 (firm/dogs up) in a prep for next Sunday's Matriarch.

The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)