RAW GOLD TO GUN FOR FIFTH STAKES VICTORY IN GRADE III RAILBIRD
Size-wise, Raw Gold doesn't add up to much; at slightly over 14 hands and only 879 pounds she
might be the smallest horse in training at Hollywood Park.
But thoroughbred races aren't won by size alone. Talent, speed and heart are the most important qualities, and Raw Gold has an abundance of those elements. She's won five of eight starts and $244,125 for the Ridder Thoroughbred Stable, and without question she's the horse to beat in next Sunday's $100,000-added Railbird Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
The seven-furlong Railbird might appear to be a stretch for Raw Gold, who has been nearly unbeatable at six furlongs or shorter but finished up the track in the seven-furlong Del Mar Debutante and the one mile Las Viregenes Stakes.
Trainer David Hofmans, however, said he still believes the Kentucky-bred of Rahy- Golden Thatch eventually will get a route. He points to victories in the 6 1/2-furlong Santa Paula Stakes and the seven-furlong Santa Ynez Stakes as proof she isn't merely a six-furlong specialist. And in the recent Santa Paula, Raw Gold rated kindly off the pace before romping home by five lengths in 1:15 3/5.
"Sometimes I get to thinking that she's just a sprinter," Hofmans said. "But the way she relaxed the other day . . . I'm beginning to think I might want to try her long again. That was a new weapon for her, and it really gives us reason to believe she might route."
First things first, though, and that means a date in the seven-furlong Railbird Stakes.
Early probables for the 34th running of the Railbird Stakes, to be run Sunday, May 5: Hidden Lake, Chris McCarron; Raw Gold, Chris Antley, and Supercilious, Corey Nakatani.
Possible: Soviet Nights, Eddie Delahoussaye, and Tiffany Diamond, Alex Solis.
E C's DREAM TRADES IN MINT JULEP FOR SNOW CHIEF
Sid Craig's dream was to win the Kentucky Derby with E C's Dream.
The more Craig studied the situation, however, the more he believed it would be asking too much of the Incinderator colt. So instead of going to Kentucky for the Derby, E C's Dream will stay home and run in Saturday's $75,000-added Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds.
"The horse doesn't have any speed, and we felt trying to get by 19 horses would be extremely difficult," trainer Bill Spawr said. "Do you know how much luck you need to pass 19 horses."
E C's Dream worked six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 Sunday and Spawr said the horse is sound.
"His work today was probably his best work ever," Spawr said. "He couldn't be doing better."
KENTUCKY DERBY TROPHY ON DISPLAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
The 1986 Kentucky Derby trophy, commemorating Ferdinand's 17-1 upset victory, is on display
daily through May 4 in the Breeders' Cup Information Center and the Turf Club.
The trophy is at the Breeders' Cup Information Center (just west of the paddock) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each racing day, and in the Turf Club from 3 p.m. to closing. On Fridays, the trophy is at the Breeders' Cup Information Center from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and in the Turf Club from 8 p.m. to closing.
In the '86 Derby, Bill Shoemaker drove Ferdinand through an opening on the rail and the chestnut exploded in the stretch for a 2 1/4-length triumph over Bold Arrangement. Charlie Whittingham trained the winner for Mrs. Elizabeth A. Keck.
JOCKEYS BEGIN EXODUS TO KENTUCKY
Several of the circuit's top riders will be at Churchill Downs to ride in Saturday's 122nd Kentucky
Derby:
Here are the riders, the horses they ride in the Derby, and their day of departure:
Corey Black, Corker, leaves Friday night.
Chris Antley, Louis Quatorze, leaves Thursday night
Gary Stevens, Editor's Note, leaves Monday
Alex Solis, Matty G, leaves Thursday night
Corey Nakatani, Alyrob, undetermined
Kent Desormeaux, Diligence, undetermined
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)