HOLLYWOOD PARK STABLE NOTES

Friday, May 26, 1995

By Vince Bruun & Ed Golden

TALLOIRES: A FRENCH WORD FOR GOOFBALL?

Timeform, the respected English turf publication, said Talloires is, "One of the

game's great characters . . . a possessor of exceptionally wayward antics."

Kent Desormeaux, who has the mount on the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred in

Monday's $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap, agreed wholeheartedly.

"He ducks, props, pulls up . . . he's liable to do anything," said Desormeaux, who

has ridden the French import in all four of his American starts. "He's probably one of the most talented horses I've ever ridden who doesn't use himself. He reminds me of the filly (Toussaud) I used to ride for Bobby Frankel. I think maybe everything comes so easy that they're just bored with the game."

It's worth noting that Talloires was trained by Andre Fabre in France and is trained

by Richard Mandella in Southern California. In other words, two of the game's greatest conditioners have been unable to harness what appears to be an immensely talented horse.

Not that there hasn't been some success along the way. The son of Trempolino

has started 11 times with three wins, three seconds, two thirds and $203,682 in purses.

But the epitome of Talloires was the 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, when he

unleashed a huge move into contention and looked like a sure winner, only to zig-zag through the stretch and finish eighth of 23.

"Have I figured him out?" Desormeaux said. "Yeah, I know exactly what to do with

him. You let him lope along until the quarter pole, and then you let him decide whether he wants to go or not. If he does, he's got the talent to win.

"He's also the only horse I've ever ridden who ducks into the whip. If you want him

to go right, you hit him with the right. If you want him to go left, you hit him with the left.

"But he's ornery. You never try and make him do something because he won't do

it. He's just a big beautiful horse, but unfortunately, he's got an attitude."

Probables for the 27th running of the Hollywood Turf Handicap, to be decided

at 1 1/4 miles: Sandpit, Corey Nakatani, 122; Celtic Arms, Eddie Delahoussaye, 120; Vaudeville, Gary Stevens, 119; Del Mar Dennis, Chris Antley, 118; Savinio, Chris McCarron, 117; Earl of Barking, G. F. Almeida, 115; Wandesta, Pat Day, 114; Liyoun, no rider, 113; Cocooning, no rider, 113, and Talloires, Desormeaux, 113.

POSSIBLY PERFECT GAME FOR GAMELY

Blue Vista Inc.'s Possibly Perfect will gun for her fourth straight victory and her

fourth career Grade I victory in the $150,000-added Gamely Handicap on June 4.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Northern Baby, Possibly Perfect has won eight of

14 career starts and is unbeaten in three races on Hollywood's turf course. Her bankroll is $743,373.

Bobby Frankel, the meet's leading trainer with 12 victories through Thursday, will

again give a leg up to Kent Desormeaux on Possibly Perfect.

Frankel, incidentally, has won three of the last five Gamelys. He scored with

Toussaud in 1993, Metamorphos in 1992 and Double Wedge in 1990.

Confirmed for the 29th running of the Grade I Gamely, to be decided at

1 1/8 miles on turf: Aube Indienne, Chris McCarron; Lady Affirmed, Gary Stevens and Possibly Perfect, Desormeaux.

Possible: Cabo Queen, no rider; Fondly Remembered, no rider; Morgana, Eddie

Delahoussaye, and Wende, no rider.

IN CHARACTER MAY SURFACE IN CINEMA HANDICAP

Trainer Bruce Jackson, who won back-to-back runnings of the Cinema Handicap

in 1990 and 1991 with Jovial and Character, said In Character is a possible starter in the 1995 renewal of the Grade III grass race on June 3.

In Character, who comes off a 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, worked six

furlongs in 1:13 1/5 on the turf Friday with Chris Antley up and appears to be on course for the Cinema.

Jackson hasn't committed to running yet, however. "We probably won't decide

until next week," he said. "He's training good on the turf, though."

Several top-caliber 3-year-olds are being pointed to the Cinema: multiple stakes

winner On Target, California Derby winner Fine N' Majestic, La Puente Stakes winner Longliner and Will Rogers Breeders' Cup Handicap winner Via Lombardia.

Via Lombardia worked on the turf Thursday, breezing five furlongs in a leisurely

1:05 3/5.

"He was just cruising, a very, very easy work," trainer Neil Drysdale said of Via

Lombardia.

Probables for the $100,000-added Cinema Handicap, a Grade III event at 1 1/8 miles on turf: Fine N' Majestic, Gary Stevens; In Character, Chris Antley; Longliner, Chris McCarron; On Target, Alex Solis, and Via Lombardia, Eddie Delahoussaye.

THE IDAHO CONNECTION

Sunday's $100,000-added Hawthorne Handicap (Gr. II) combines the best jockey

and the biggest money-earner the State of Idaho has ever produced.

Angi Go, a 5-year-old chestnut and one of the hardest running mares anywhere,

is the state's all-time money earner with $357,772. Over 50 percent of that total has been earned while facing many of the best fillies and mares in Southern California, including $62,700 for her victory in the Grade II A Gleam Handicap May 7.

Stevens, of course, needs no introduction. The 32-year-old rider was born

March 6, 1963, in Caldwell, Idaho, broke his maiden at Les Bois Park in Boise in 1979, and has gone on to fame and fortune while riding on the nation's toughest circuit. His mounts have earned over $120 million.

So perhaps it's just natural that Stevens should wind up on Angi Go, whose

career mark stands at 28 starts, 15 wins, eight seconds and three thirds.

David Hofmans, who has trained Angi Go since she arrived in California in late

1993, said it was Pete Parrella of Legacy Ranch who recommended him to Angi Go's owner Kenneth D. Hartley.

Hartley, like Angi Go and Stevens, is an Idaho-bred all the way. A retired building

contractor, Hartley makes his home in American Falls, Idaho, population 3,700. He and his wife Pat keep their one broodmare, Angi Mo, in their back yard. They bred her to Idaho's Majesty at Clark Ranch in Albion, Idaho, for $600, and the result was Angi Go.

"The genes just clicked. There's no other way to explain it," Hartley said. "Angi Mo

was named Idaho mare of the year."

Interestingly, the all-time Idaho-bred money earner before Angi Mo was Northern

Provider, a 1982 son of Staff Writer who earned more than $264,000 before retiring in 1991. At one time, Northern Provider was trained by Gary Stevens' father, Ron.

MARINA PARK GIVEN A RESPITE

Conspicuously absent from Sunday's $100,000-added Hawthorne Handicap is

Greenland Park Ltd.'s Marina Park, who has won stakes on dirt and turf since arriving from Great Britain last fall.

Trainer Ian Jory said the plan had been to run Marina Park in the Grade II

Hawthorne, but he said the mare took a beating while finish fifth in the A Gleam Handicap on May 7.

According to Jory, the incident occurred nearing the three-eighths pole.

"She was between horses, with Top Rung on her inside and Angi Go on her

outside," he said. "Top Rung suddenly ducked out, and (Marina Park) was squeezed into Angi Go. She got hit hard from both sides. She never had a chance."

Jory said Marina Park emerged from the mishap body-sore, but otherwise sound.

"She just needed a little time off," Jory said, adding he hopes to resume serious

training next week.

As for Marina Park's next race, Jory said he's considering stakes at Canterbury

Park and Arlington International. "(But) I don't think we'll ship her anywhere," he said. "We'll probably just sit and wait."

HOLLYPARK PRESENTS METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, PETER PAN SIMULCASTS

Hollywood Park will offer simulcast wagering on the $150,000-guaranteed Peter

Pan Stakes (Gr. II) from Belmont Park on Sunday, and the $500,000-guaranteed Metropolitan Handicap (Gr. I) on Memorial Day.

Romarin, the versatile Brazilian-bred from trainer Richard Mandella's barn,

shipped from Kentucky Thursday for his engagement in the Metropolitan Handicap.

Scheduled post time for both races is 2:05 p.m.

FREE SPORTS CAPS MONDAY

Free Hollywood Park Sports Caps will be given to all paid admissions (while

supplies last) at Hollywood Park and most satellite wagering locations on Memorial Day. First post is 1 p.m. for the 10-race holiday program.

FINISH LINES: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said from the Blue Grass state that Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch was "possible" for the $500,000 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 23, while Serena's Song is expected to make her next start in the $200,000-guaranteed Mother Goose Stakes (Gr. I) at Belmont Park on June 9. "It's too early to say if she'd go from there to the Hollywood Oaks (July 9)," Lukas said. "She could stay on for the Coaching Club (American) Oaks (at Belmont Park on July 8)." . . . A relative newcomer to the Thoroughbred business is Ted Parfet, who numbers a Storm Cat filly named Chile Catte among his stock with trainer Richard Mandella. "I had some pleasure horses and my daughter, Sally Williams, was active with Arabians," said the resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who bought Chille Catte at the Keeneland yearling sales. Whether she can run or not remains to be seen, but it's significant that when Chille Catte worked a half-mile in :49 1/5 Wednesday morning, Kent Desormeaux was aboard for the move . . . Laffit Pincay Jr. will be at Calder Race Course in Miami June 3 to ride in three $100,000 stakes: the Azalea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the Carry Back Stakes for 3-year-olds and the Lago Mar Handicap for 3-year-olds and up . . . Speaking of Pincay, it seems odd that the 48-year-old Hall of Famer is without a mount in Sunday's Hawthorne Handicap. After all, he's ridden the winner in eight of the 21 runnings to date . . . Trainer Neil Drysdale said French Deputy is trotting daily but is still a long way from being race-ready. "He'll be there eventually . . . I hope," Drysdale said . . . Alex Solis will travel to Golden Gate Fields Monday to ride Forest Gazelle for Bobby Frankel in the $100,000-added Oakland Handicap at 6 furlongs . . . Friday's prominent works: At Hollywood (overcast & fast) Jacodra's Devil, :49 1/5; Tinners Way, 1:13 3/5. Turf firm/dogs up: Morgana, :49 3/5; Alex The Great, 1:00 2/5; Saltgrass, 1:00 3/5; Unfinished Symph, 1:10 1/5.