HOLLYWOOD PARK STABLE NOTES

Sunday, May 14, 1995

By Vince Bruun & Ed Golden

JUMRON OUT OF PREAKNESS, RETURNING TO CALIFORNIA

Charles W. Dunn's Jumron, fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will skip the 120th edition of the Preakness Stakes Saturday and return to California.

Vince DeGregory, agent for Jumron's rider, Goncalino Almeida, said Sunday morning that trainer Gary Lewis had called him from Kentucky where Jumron is stabled, and said the colt would return to Santa Anita Park on Tuesday.

"He didn't indicate the horse was hurt or anything," DeGregory said. "But I know Gary and if the horse isn't training right or shows he doesn't like the track, he won't run him. He said he just changed his mind and he's not going to run in the Preakness."

Jumron, a 3-year-old Great Britain-bred son of Sharpo, finished a fast-closing third behind Larry The Legend in the Santa Anita Derby before shipping to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby.

In nine career starts, Jumron has five wins, two seconds, one third and earnings of $404,380.

DELAHOUSSAYE MAKES HIS AGENT'S JOB EASY

Eddie Delahoussaye doesn't win every race with consummate ease. He just makes it look that way.

Like he did at Hollywood Park Saturday, winning five races, including the Will Rogers Breeders' Cup Handicap in prototypical Eddie Delahoussaye fashion, coming from dead last to win going away.

Delahoussaye's big day -- his first five-win performance since Nov. 11, 1992 -- moved him into second place in the Hollywood Park jockey standings with 13 wins, nine behind leader Corey Nakatani.

But winning races in bunches and winning riding titles are not priorities for the 43-year-old Hall of Fame jockey from New Iberia, Louisiana. As one of the most respected riders on the circuit, by horsemen, fans and media alike, Delahoussaye can afford to be very selective when it comes to mounts.

And when you have a jockey with the character and cool of an Eddie Delahoussaye, offering his services is as easy as offering a snack to a stray mutt.

"We'll ride for anybody if the horse will win," Delahoussaye's agent of eight years, Terry Lipham, said in an over-simplifed statement. "We'll ride for anybody, anytime, anyplace."

Of course, the business of agenting is not that effortless, and Lipham, who retired as a jockey about 10 years ago, admits he has an easy sell in Eddie Delahoussaye.

But he's as protective of his rider as a lioness of her cub. One of Lipham's most important assignments is to secure mounts that are sound, well-conditioned and that he is familiar with. Obviously, he does not want to threaten his rider's -- or the other jockeys' -- safety.

"It's my job to watch the horses (he books) and make sure they're not goofy or have any bad habits," Lipham said, "especially horses that don't train here (on the Southern California circuit). As long as I can watch them run and they don't do anything wrong, and I can watch them come back and they're sound enough, then I'll ride for people we don't normally ride for.

"But if I've never seen the horse, then you can forget about it. I won't ride for them. I won't ride a horse from off the race track or that hasn't already run, if it's not for someone that we normally ride for. It's too dangerous, especially when you have a rider like mine and you don't have to.

"I'm very lucky to be in a situation where you don't have to ride just any horse. If a trainer brings a horse in and we work him, then that's different. But normally, we like horses that are on the race track.

"Eddie's reputation speaks for itself. It's very easy to be Eddie Delahoussaye's agent. You just have to be very careful what you put him on. But it's very easy to be his agent because everybody likes him and everybody wants him."

URBANE PROGRESSING, OUT UNTIL FALL

Ashland Stakes winner Urbane, injured in a roughly run edition of the Kentucky Oaks on May 5, is making progress in Kentucky in the care of Dr. Alex Harthill and is likely to race again, trainer Brian Mayberry said at Hollywood Park Sunday morning.

"It looks like she'll be all right, but she needs some time off," Mayberry said of the 3-year-old daughter of Citidancer. "She's not permanently injured. I suppose you'd describe her injury as a hematoma. She got her hind leg locked with another horse in the race and hurt her right hind."

Urbane, second twice and third once behind reigning 3-year-old filly queen Serena's Song, lost nothing in defeat as the 3-10 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks.

"I'd have to say she's the first or second-best 3-year-old filly in the country," Mayberry said of Urbane. "That defeat in no way diminished her stature, looking back on the race. We hope to have her running again in the fall."

NAKATANI ON BON POINT IN MERVYN LeROY HANDICAP

Juddmonte Farms' Bon Point will make his first start ever on the main track in next Sunday's $100,000-added Mervyn LeRoy Handicap. Leading trainer Bobby Frankel said Sunday morning that leading jockey Corey Nakatani has the mount.

Mel Stute sent David N. Brown's College Town seven furlongs on Hollywood Park's fast main track Sunday morning in 1:28 1/5 under Edmundo Cedeno and said if all was well Monday morning, the son of Snow Chief would start in the Grade II Mervyn LeRoy.

Confirmed for the 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds and up: Bon Point, Nakatani; College Town, Laffit Pincay Jr.; Ferrara, Chris Antley, and Powis Castle, Gary Stevens.

Possibilities: Criollito and Hill Pass.

LADIES BALLET TO SKIP THIS DANCE

Golden Eagle Farm's Ladies Ballet, nominated to Saturday's $100,000-added Honeymoon Handicap, will not make her stakes debut in the Grade III race, trainer Rodney Rash said Sunday morning.

Six 3-year-old fillies were firm for the 1 1/16 turf event as of Sunday morning: Artica, Laffit Pincay Jr.; Auriette, Eddie Delahoussaye; Jewel Princess, Chris Antley; Kuda, Alex Solis; Ski Dancer, no rider, and Top Shape, Corey Nakatani.

ABAGINONE SMOKES IN RETURN

On a Saturday when exceptional performances were the rule -- Via Lombardia, Yappy, Ask Anita, etc . . . -- perhaps the most extraordinary effort was the third race blitz by Ron Charles and Clear Valley Stables' Abaginone. The son of Devil's Bag came off a 10-month vacation to score by 10 lengths in the $45,000 allowance event for non-winners of $3,000 twice.

Breaking from the dreaded No. 1 post position under Gary Stevens, Abaginone set splits that might make Chinook Pass blush -- a quarter mile in :21 1/5, a half in :43 1/5 and six furlongs in 1:08 flat, the latter clocking being just one tick off the track record set by Forest Gazelle. Abaginone finished out the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14 3/5.

"How many :21 and one's do you see?" said trainer Sandy Shulman. "He is simply a rocket of a horse."

Purchased for $55,000 at the 1993 Barretts March Sale, Abaginone has a well- documented shin problem that occurred during a public workout prior to the sale. "Otherwise, he would have been the sales topper and we would have never gotten him," Shulman said.

The cracked shin has forced Shulman to treat Abaginone with kid gloves. The 4-year-old colt has raced just four times with three firsts, one third and $69,543 in earnings.

Abaginone's next race figures to be interesting as Shulman said he will try his speedster in a route race for non-winners of three other than maiden or claiming.

"He's bred to go long and he finishes his races like he'll go long. I have a lot of confidence in him," the trainer said.

As exercise rider Jim Brookfield put it, "I've been getting on horses for over 40 years and (Abaginone's) faster than anything I've ever been on. He's so fast he just gives you goosebumps."

UNITED PEGASUS FOUNDATION NEEDS HELP

The United Pegasus Foundation, which provides homes for injured and retired racehorses, needs to raise an estimated $10,000 to purchase pipe corrals and shelters for its new rehabilitation center.

If you are able to contribute, please make a check payable to United Pegasus Foundation. Under memo write: "Shelter Sponsor." Mailing address -- 60 Alta Street, #3, Arcadia, Calif., 91006.

For more information contact Helen Meredith at (818) 452-8461.

IT WAS A `HEADS UP' DERBY FOR AFTERNOON DEELITES

The Daily Racing Form trouble line on Afternoon Deelites' Kentucky Derby performance reads: "Brushed early, tried to savage rival, wide thereafter."

"Savage." That means he tried to bite another horse. But according to the colt's trainer, Richard Mandella, it didn't happen.

"He's never done that before," Mandella said. "I didn't even see it," he added, chuckling. "You'll have to ask who rode him. I asked Kent (Desormeaux) and he said he didn't notice."

"There's actually a pretty good shot of it on (ABC) television," Mandella's son, Gary, said. "It's actually right there in the middle of the screen. I can't see his mouth open. I can see him throw his head at the (other) horse. I mean, he's got a figure eight on."

Richard Mandella said he did not plan to scope Afternoon Deelites' throat for a couple more days. The colt came out of his eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby with pharyngitis. "Right now it's just being treated and we'll see what it looks like in a few days," Mandella said.

FINISH LINES: Leading jockey Corey Nakatani will serve a three-day suspension from May 17 through May 19. The suspension originally was five days, for Nakatani's ride on I'ma Game Master at Santa Anita on Jan. 29. Nakatani appealed, but a California Horse Racing Board hearing officer denied it. The CHRB later modified the ban to three days . . . Agent Gene Short reports Kent Desormeaux will be at Pimlico Friday to ride Forever Cherokee for trainer Marcos Medrano in the $200,000-guaranteed Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (Gr. II) at 1 1/8 miles. Forever Cherokee was second at 59-1 to Cat's Cradle in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 14, beaten four lengths . . . Bobby Frankel confirmed that Pat Day has the mount on Wandesta in the $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap on Memorial Day . . . Jockey Alex Solis made the Sunday morning rounds escorted by his 10-year-old son, Alex Jr., who was wearing a Mighty Ducks jacket. Asked his favorite hockey team, Alex Jr. answered: "The San Jose Sharks." . . . Hollywood Park-based El Atroz and Screaming Don both are being considered for Saturday's $125,000 All American Handicap (Gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields. Screaming Don worked six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 Saturday on Hollywood Park's fast main track.

Trainer Gary Lewis plans to ship Lucky Forever to Golden Gate for the $100,000- guaranteed Oakland Handicap on May 29. Regular rider Goncalino Almeida won't make the trip, however, as he will remain at Inglewood to ride Liyoun in the $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap (Gr. I) the same day . . .Trainer Ross Fenstermaker celebrates his 56th birthday Monday, and trainer J. R. McCutcheon, a.k.a. "The Coach," celebrates his 71st birthday Wednesday . . . Snapper, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly, has enjoyed considerable success since being shipped to Washington state by trainer Wesley Ward. The daughter of Fit to Fight is undefeated in three starts at Yakima Meadows, including a victory in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance feature Friday. Owned by Nancy Rice of Unfinished Symph fame, Snapper is now trained by Wesley's father, Dennis Ward . . . Gary Baze, who rode Unfinished Symph to victory in last year's Will Rogers Handicap, is in semi-retirement in his native Washington state. Trevor Denman Day at Turf Paradise Saturday reportedly was a big hit. Hollywood Park's track announcer signed some 500 autographs at the Phoenix track and then called the day's races . . . Veteran horseman Jim Brookfield, who exercises horses and assists trainer Sandy Shulman, said he leaves for Lexington, Ky., in two weeks to operate his own stable based out of Keeneland. In addition to Shulman, Brookfield, has worked for Jack Van Berg, D. Wayne Lukas and Ian P. D. Jory . . . Forty-three years ago Monday, John Longden became the first jockey to reach 4,000 wins with a victory aboard Fleet Diver . . . Former jockey Carlos Delgadillo is working as an exercise rider for trainer David Bernstein . . . Trainer Nick Hines, seen on the backstretch sporting a jacket designed to represent the American flag, bedecked in red, white and blue stripes with stars, was told by an observer that Sunday was Mother's Day, not the Fourth of July. He quickly and aptly retorted: "Same thing."