HOLLYWOOD PARK STABLE NOTES
Friday, June 9, 1995
By Vince Bruun & Ed Golden
PANZA IS PROUD TO HAVE THE EASTERNER
IN THE CALIFORNIAN AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
Except for the Breeders' Cup, it's rare these days that a top handicap horse ships west for a
stakes race.
So Hollywood Park racing secretary Martin Panza can't be blamed for showing a hint of pride in the fact that one is coming to Hollywood Park for Sunday for The Californian, a Grade I event which drew nine entries Friday morning.
The East Coast shipper is more than a top handicap horse. He's the 1994 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Concern.
"It's been a while since we've had one come out," the 31-year-old Panza said between directing operations at his efficient racing office. "I guess Sultry Song (Hollywood Gold Cup winner in 1992) was the last one. But he was a longshot (almost 10-1).
"Anytime you get a Breeders' Cup winner in one of your races, you feel you've accomplished something. I think it's great for racing and great for the fans. It hasn't happened for a long time."
Panza said he spoke with Concern's trainer, Richard Small, Friday morning. Small plans to ship
Robert Meyerhoff's Maryland-bred colt Saturday from New York, and the son of Broad Brush is due to arrive at LAX at 6 p.m. that night via FedEx.
The 42nd edition of The Californian, in post position order with riders and weights: Tinners Way, Eddie Delahoussaye, 116; Ravenwood, Felipe Martinez, 116; Blumin Affair, Goncalino Almeida, 116; Best Pal, Chris McCarron, 120; Tossofthecoin, Corey Nakatani, 118; Lottery Winner, Corey Black, 116; Let's Be Curious, Kent Desormeaux, 118; Stoller, Gary Stevens, 116, and Concern, 122, Mike Smith.
With nine starters, The Californian will gross $274,900, with the winner earning $162,400.
The Californian will be presented as the sixth live race, with post time scheduled for 3:50 p.m.
TEXINADRESS EYES PRINCESS STAKES
Mike Pegram's Texinadress, a game second to Sleep Easy in the Railbird Stakes on May 27, is expected to tackle the Juddmonte Farms' filly again in next Sunday's
$100,000-added Princess Stakes.
The probable field for the Grade II event for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles: Artica, Laffit Pincay Jr.; Favored One, no rider; Laguna Seca, no rider; Ski Dancer, Chris McCarron, Sleep Easy, Corey Nakatani and Texinadress, Kent Desormeaux.
Trainer Doug Peterson said Thomas and Marguerite Cavanaugh's Stately Star will pass the race.
GORKY SQUARE SET FOR VALKYR HANDICAP
Sandy Shulman, Hollywood Park's second-leading trainer with 13 wins through Thursday, plans to run Gorky Square in next Saturday's $100,000-added Valkyr Handicap.
Corey Nakatani has the mount.
Shulman knows he has a tough assignment with 1994 California Horse of the Year Soviet Problem pointing to the 5 1/2-furlong race, but an upset by Gorky Square would provide a pleasant gift for one of her owners.
"Saturday is Zvi Akin's birthday," Shulman said, "so I can't think of a better present." Lou Block and Bill Crusberg also own Gorky Square.
The probable Valkyr field: Dezibelle's Star, no rider; Flying In The Lane, Alex Solis; Gorky Square, Nakatani, and Soviet Problem, Chris McCarron.
BELMONT STAKES TOPS SIMULCAST SLATE
Hollywood Park will present the 127th edition of the Belmont Stakes via simulcast Saturday, in addition to three other stakes races on the Belmont Park program.
Scheduled post time for the final leg of the Triple Crown is 2:30 p.m., between Hollywood Park's second and third live races.
The other simulcasts: the $100,000-added Hill Prince Stakes (Gr. III) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the turf (12:27 p.m.), the $100,000-added Riva Ridge Stakes (Gr. III) for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs (1:05 p.m.) and the $200,000-guaranteed Early Times Manhattan (Gr. I) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles on the turf (1:42 p.m.). Post time for Hollywood Park's first live race Saturday is 1:20 p.m.
The Belmont field in post position order with riders: Citadeed, Eddie Maple; Off'n' Away, Mike Smith; Pana Brass, Wigberto Ramos; Is Sveikatas, Jorge Chavez; Ave's Flag, John Velazquez; Composer, Jerry Bailey; Wild Syn, Randy Romero; Colonial Secretary, Jose Santos; Knockadoon, Chris McCarron; Thunder Gulch, Gary Stevens; Timber Country, Pat Day, and Star Standard, Julie Krone. All carry 126 pounds.
AGENT LIPTON HOPES BLANC CAN EMULATE LUIS ORTEGA
Brice Blanc had only won four races from 75 mounts at Hollywood Park through Thursday, but he was the meet's leading apprentice rider.
And if veteran agent Vic Lipton has his way, he will develop the young Frenchman into a top journeyman.
"He had been back and forth from France several times, and one day Rodney Rash came up to me and asked me why I didn't take his book?," Lipton said of Blanc. "Being the top horseman he is, I figured maybe Rodney knows something. I talked with Brice and I made a decision right then to do it.
This was in the middle of the Santa Anita meet.
"It wasn't easy. We worked a lot of horses and didn't wind up riding them in the afternoons. But some we did, and we kept building, and right now it looks like we have a chance to establish ourselves."
Lipton said Blanc has his visa for permanent status now and has "close to a year" remaining before he loses his apprenticeship.
"His work ethic is incredible," Lipton said. "He doesn't miss a morning and works horses for as many trainers as he can. I believe he has a lot of natural talent and the feedback I get from many trainers is that he improves every week to the point that now he's competitive with the rest of the riders.
Lipton has booked mounts for jockeys such as Martin Pedroza (when he won the Santa Anita Handicap with $103.60 outsider Martial Law in 1989), Jack Kaenel, Rafael Meza, Eddie Belmonte, Corey Black and John Sellers, among others.
"I started from scratch with most of my riders," Lipton said. "I haven't been fortunate enough to take them over with a ready-made business, and I don't mind that as long as a rider has talent and is willing to work."
One of Lipton's all-time favorite riders was Luis Ortega. "We met in the clubhouse one day when he was sipping a cup of coffee," Lipton recalled. "He's a Panamanian and I loved them, because they're so well-schooled. We won a few races in San Francisco and then came to Santa Anita. Halfway through the meet, he was sixth-leading rider, but he got hurt. He had more guts and determination than any rider I ever had.
"This was about 12-14 years ago. Now he works for Ron McAnally. Ortega had more heart than just about any rider I've ever seen. He'd go through holes that people wouldn't dare go through, and he'd get through clean. But one day he clipped heels with (Steve) Cauthen and was out a whole year.
"He came back and was working a horse for Lou Carno at Del Mar and there was a loose horse going the wrong way. He avoided the loose horse, but an outrider hit him full speed. He was out another year. Then he made a third comeback and we were doing good again, and he did okay for a while, rode first call for Bobby Frankel at Oaklawn Park. For heart and determination, Ortega is No. 1 in my book."
GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITS PEGASUS FOUNDATION
The Pegasus Foundation, a charitable organization that rehabilitates and cares for horses, will hold a benefit golf tournament at Via Verde Country Club in San
Dimas on Monday, July 17.
The United Pegasus Foundation is dedicated to insure the dignity of all horses, rehabilitates them and finds homes for them to live out their lives in retirement. For information on the golf tournament, call Susan Webb at (818) 446-1586.
Donations may be sent to: United Pegasus Foundation, 60 Alta St. #3, Arcadia, CA 91006.
FINISH LINES: Trainer Gary Lewis reports from Santa Anita that Jumron, fourth in the Kentucky Derby, has been turned out for a month at Bradbury. "He's a little body-sore," Lewis said, "but I expect him back the first of July to get ready for Del Mar." . . . Charlie Whittingham said Strodes Creek is recovering well from a muscle pull in his hind quarters suffered at Santa Anita and should return at Del Mar . . . Richard Mandella said he will nominate Fit To Lead to the $150,000-added Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 25, "but I'll probably keep her in Kentucky." Mandella was pleased with Phone Chatter's third-place effort in Thursday's feature behind Private Persuasion. "I knew she wasn't cranked up full gear," Mandella said of the 1993 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies champion, "but it was a good enough race. I'm happy with it and it should set her up well for her next race." He didn't know when that might be. Paco Gonzalez reports Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan's promising Gastown had a chip removed from his left front ankle following his last victory and will sidelined three-to-four months ... Bill Spawr said Bridge of Royalty came out of his runner-up finish to Distinguished Forum in the Westchester Stakes in good shape and will be pointed to the $500,000 Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 17. "He coughed a little before the race," the trainer said, "but it didn't cost him as much as being on the inside did. But give full credit to the Duttons (Barbara and Jerry). That's a nice filly." Spawr said he would give Bridge of Royalty a breather, did not plan any races for him before the Futurity, and would train him up to the Grade I race to be decided at 1 1/16 miles. Jockey Jose Silva, who won Wednesday's seventh race for trainer Sam Scolamieri on Our Summer Bid, was scheduled to ride Pala Canyon for Scolamieri in Golden Gate Fields' fifth race Friday night before flying back to ride Royal Desperado for the trainer in Hollywood Park's ninth race . . . On June 10, 1953, 42 years ago Saturday, trainer Charlie Whittingham, at age 40, saddled his first stakes winner when Porterhouse, ridden by Bill Boland won the National Stallion Stakes at Belmont Park. Porterhouse was later named champion 2-year-old of 1953.