Sunday, November 10, 1996

VICTORY SPEECH, ALYROB TO CLASH IN LAZ BARRERA

Victory Speech and Alyrob, two former Kentucky Derby hopefuls, will clash in Sunday's $100,000-added Lazaro S. Barrera (Gr. III) at Hollywood Park.

Victory Speech, from the powerful D. Wayne Lukas barn, is a veteran of the Triple Crown trail and Hollywood Park. Victory Speech finished tenth in the Run for the Roses, while racing in the colors of 1995 Derby winner Thunder Gulch for owner Michael Tabor.

The son of Deputy Minister improved to fifth in the Preakness Stakes (Gr. I), and battled with Skip Away before settling for second in the Ohio Derby (Gr. II). Following a Dwyer (Gr. II) win, Hollywood Park was the next stop on the Victory Speech summer tour. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the Swaps Stakes (Gr. II), the colt responded with an impressive 3 1/2-length victory, giving Lukas his second consecutive Swaps. The well-traveled 3-year-old has recorded five wins in 12 starts this year, while racing at nine different tracks.

Alyrob was considered one of the top 3-year-olds in the country after finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby (Gr. I). Although he was disqualified in that race, his luck didn't change for the better as he finished a lackluster eighth in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Wally Dollase gave his colt the summer off, and he responded with a strong second against older horses in an Oct. 18 allowance race at Santa Anita.

Probables for the $100,000-added Lazaro S. Barrera (Gr. III) for 3-year-olds, to be run Sunday, Nov. 17, at 1 1/16 miles on the main track: Alyrob, Corey Nakatani; Don't Blame Rio, Alex Solis; Future Quest, Kent Desormeaux; Victory Speech, Gary Stevens, and Zanferrier, no rider.

Possible: Northern Afleet, Chris McCarron; Rash Reality, no rider.

MATRIARCH IS SHAPING UP AS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

The $700,000 Matriarch (Gr. I) is shaping up to be a championship caliber race, with virtually every top turf distaffer in North America lining up for the event.

The Matriarch has decided the Eclipse Award in two of the last four years. Flawlessly used Matriarch victories in 1992 and 1993 to earn the distinction of North America's top turf filly or mare.

Currently, there are 13 Grade I winners considering the Matriarch: Admise, Alpride, Auriette, Bail Out Becky, Different, Donna Viola, Duda, Indianita, Hollywood Dream, Memories Of Silver, Timarida, Wandesta and Windsharp.

Others considering the race are De Puntillas, Dixie Pearl, Real Connection and Tamise.

HUNTER AND HOFMANS CONTINUE ROLL

Sometimes the right combination is all it takes. Trainer David Hofmans and jockey Michael Hunter have been a hot combination this fall. Hunter won his first five mounts for Hofmans, and the combination has won seven of 12 starts overall, including the Henry P. Russell and Taisez Vous handicaps.

Hofmans and Hunter continued their winning ways Saturday, as Hunter piloted Oakhurst to victory in the fifth race. Their record at the last three meets: Del Mar, one for one; Oak Tree at Santa Anita, five for nine, and the autumn meet at Hollywood Park, one for two. A $2 win bet on each of their 12 starts would have yielded $69.20 for a $24 investment.

FINISH LINES: Trainer Cliff Sise Jr. said Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr. I) runner-up Paying Dues could make his next start in the Hollywood Turf Express (Gr. III) on Nov. 29. The 4-year-old Cure The Blues gelding has never run on the grass . . . Trainer Mel Stute said he is considering supplementing Yellow Ribbon (Gr. I) runner-up Real Connection to the $700,000 Matriarch on Dec. 1. The 5-year-old mare would have to be supplemented at a cost of $30,000 . . . Sandtrap worked five furlongs in 1:03 4/5 in preparation for the Hollywood Turf Express (Gr. III) . . . Unfinished Symph went three furlongs in :37 2/5 over the turf . . . Critical Factor, third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Gr. I), drilled four furlongs in :47 1/5 on the grass . . . Ocean Queen went six panels in 1:17 2/5 over the lawn for trainer Neil Drysdale. The 3-year-old filly defeated the boys in the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Derby (Gr. III) last time out . . . Del Mar Invitational Derby (Gr. II) winner Rainbow Blues went six furlongs in 1:16 . . . Bay Meadows Handicap (Gr. III) winner Gentlemen drilled seven furlongs over the turf in 1:28 4/5, as he readies for the Citation Handicap (Gr. II) on Nov. 30. . . Sharp Cat breezed four furlongs in :50 2/5 at Santa Anita . . . Del Mar Futurity (Gr. II) winner Silver Charm drilled four furlongs in :49 at Santa Anita . . . Olimpia Dukakis breezed five furlongs in 1:01 in preparation for Saturday's $60,000-added Flawlessly . . . Linda Vista (Gr. III) winner Listening drilled six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 at Santa Anita . . . Undefeated Cal Cup Matron winner Belle's Flag breezed three furlongs in :36 over the Santa Anita training track . . . Cleante went six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 at Santa Anita.

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