By Vince Bruun & Ed Golden

SHIPPING SEEMS OF LITTLE CONCERN
TO BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC WINNER

If nothing else, Concern knows his way around the country. In his last 10 starts,

the Breeders' Cup Classic winner has raced at 10 different race tracks, and was
scheduled to make it 11 in The Californian at Hollywood Park Sunday afternoon.

The 4-year-old Maryland-bred son of Broad Brush, owned by Robert E.

Meyerhoff and trained by Richard Small, arrived at the Track of the Lakes and Flowers
around 6 o'clock Saturday night.

Concern's last 11 races have taken him to Thistledown (Ohio), Arlington Park

(Illinois), Monmouth (New Jersey), Saratoga (New York), Woodbine (Canada),
Louisiana Downs (Louisiana), Churchill Downs (Kentucky), Fair Grounds (Louisiana),
Oaklawn Park (Arkansas), Pimlico (Maryland) and now Hollywood Park in sunny
California.

"Shipping is very positive for this horse," Small said. "It kind of gears him up.

He's really interested in his surroundings. It's beneficial for him to move and it sort of
gets him keyed up. Broad Brush was like that, also. He liked to travel around and he
liked new things."

Early Sunday morning, some seven hours before the bay colt was scheduled to

take on seven foes in the Grade I Californian, the 49-year-old Small recounted what
brought him to Hollywood Park and what might lie ahead.

"The flight here was very easy," Small said. "Normally, we're stabled in Maryland,

but this particular flight was from Newark (N.J.) to LAX. I have a stable at Monmouth, so
we took Concern to Monmouth for a week and he trained there before flying out
Saturday morning."

Small, a native of Baltimore, last raced at Hollywood Park in 1977, when Festive

Mood finished ninth in the Hollywood Gold Cup. His decision to return with Concern
was based primarily on timing for the colt's racing schedule.

"More than anything we based out decision on the timing," Small explained. "In

the back of our heads we kind of had the Brooklyn (Handicap at Belmont Park on June
17) in mind after the Pimlico Special, but Concern is training real well and timingwise,
The Californian was more or less equidistant between the Pimlico Special and either
the Hollywood Gold Cup (July 2) or the Suburban (July 4 at Belmont Park). So the
timing (to run in The Californian) really is better for us than the Brooklyn."

Small gives full credit to Hollywood Park's 31-year-old racing secretary, Martin

Panza, for taking the initiative in getting Concern to come west.

"Martin called me and kind of reminded about this race," Small said. "I really

hadn't even considered it, so that was a home run for him."

Small, understandably, put future plans on hold Sunday morning, depending on

how Concern fared in The Californian. But a return visit for the Gold Cup was likely if all
went well.

"It would depend a lot on how we make out today," Small said. "If it seems like he

handles the track well and we have a good day today, it would certainly be a possibility.
The other consideration would be the Suburban. The decision would be based on the
weight (assigned), how the horse does today, how we ship home, all those kind of
things. We'll make that decision much closer to the race."

Small took a moment to analyze The Californian and how it set up for Concern's

stretch-running style.

"There are no real, honest-to-God, front-end horses in this race," Small said. "But

there are several who look like they're comfortable up towards the front. For us, we
hope they edge each other along and get going strong. But it would be wise not to
make too many mistakes, because there are two real powerful closers in this race. Best
Pal is nearly unbeaten here, and Concern has a real strong stretch kick. He doesn't win
all that often, but he's always right there at the end.

"We cut the shipping a little close, but it was a real easy flight, so we're pretty

confident."

Small didn't want to speculate too far beyond the Gold Cup or the Suburban. "At

this point we're just taking it one race at a time," Small said, "just trying to nurse the
horse along and take care of him as best we can. We want to enjoy him and want the
(racing fans) people to enjoy him. We'd like to showcase the horse as much as we can.

"It's a little unusual for a horse which has won the Breeders' Cup to continue

racing, so we hope everyone can enjoy Concern for a while longer."

SPECIAL MONDAY RACING AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

Hollywood Park's unique racing calendar calls for a special program on Monday.

First post time for the nine-race card is 1 p.m.

There is no racing at Hollywood Park on Tuesday and Wednesday. A compacted

four-day race week, which includes a pair of 14-race cards, runs Thursday through
Sunday (Father's Day). The schedule for Father's Day week follows:

Thursday.....1 p.m......9-race card



Friday...........7 p.m......9-race card



Saturday......4 p.m.....14-race card



Sunday.........1 p.m.....14-race card

BLUMIN AFFAIR OPTS FOR ALLOWANCE RACE

Leroy Bowman and Art Vogel's Blumin Affair was scratched from Sunday's

$250,000 Californian in favor of Monday's $54,000 allowance race for non-winners of
$3,000 three times.

But trainer Jack Van Berg said Blumin Affair remains a go for the $750,000

Hollywood Gold Cup on July 2.

"It's an easier condition," Van Berg said of Monday's 1 1/16-mile race. "I didn't

quite have him ready for the mile and-an-eighth (of the Californian). The race on
Monday will be a good prep for the Gold Cup."

Although he has just 12 career starts, Blumin Affair has earned $541,005 and is

stakes-placed in several graded events. He finished third in the 1994 Kentucky Derby
(Gr. I), second in the `94 Arkansas Derby (Gr. II) and second in the `93 Breeders' Cup
Juvenile (Gr. I).

LEWIS PONDERS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR LARRY THE LEGEND

Santa Anita Derby winner Larry The Legend missed the Triple Crown races due

to removal of a chip in his left front knee, but owner/trainer Craig Lewis couldn't help but
wonder how his $2,500 colt might have fared in the 3-year-old classics which concluded
with the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

"Although I'm very fortunate to have a horse of his talent win the Santa Anita

Derby," Lewis said at Hollywood Park Sunday morning. "It's disappointing after seeing
the Triple Crown races that we weren't a part of I because I think he would have been
competitive."

Lewis said Larry The Legend is coming along well since having arthroscopic

surgery to remove the chip in April.

"There's not much change. He's walking twice daily, feeling real good and if

nature's cooperative, we'll be back in a short period of time but I can't pinpoint exactly

when."

SOVIET PROBLEM DUE MONDAY FOR VALKYR HANDICAP

Soviet Problem, 1994 California Horse of the Year, was due to arrive at

Hollywood Park Monday from trainer Greg Gilchrist's barn in Northern California.

The daughter of Moscow Ballet, owned by the Harris Farms, Inc. and Don

Valpredo, will be stabled at trainer John Sadler's barn in preparation for Saturday's
$100,000-added Valkyr Handicap.

The probable field for the Valkyr, a 5 1/2-furlong turf dash which Soviet Problem

won last year: Flying In The Lane, Alex Solis; Gorky Square, Corey Nakatani;
Snowy's Mark, Kent Desormeaux, and Soviet Problem, Chris McCarron.

UNFINISHED SYMPH TO HEAD EAST

For Unfinished Symph, the road to the 1995 Breeders' Cup Mile has already

begun.

Trainer Wesley Ward said Unfinished Symph emerged from Saturday's

Shoemaker Handicap (Gr. II) in "perfect" condition, and added the Aloha Prospector
colt will leave next week to begin an East Coast campaign that will culminate, hopefully,
with the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park on Oct. 28.

First up is the $100,000-added Daryl's Joy Handicap at Saratoga on July 24. The

Daryl's Joy is a Grade III event at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

After that, it's the $100,000 Belmont Budweiser Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park

on Sept. 2. That one is also 1 1/16 miles on turf.

And then, as his final prep for the Breeders' Cup, it will be the $200,000 Kelso

Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 7. The Grade III event is one mile on turf.

"The whole schedule is subject to change, of course, " Ward said. "The main

thing is, we want to get the horse acclimated back east for the Breeders' Cup. If all
goes well, he'll already have two races over the course (before the Breeders' Cup)."

JOURNALISM AUTHORS A GUTTY EFFORT IN SHOEMAKER

Aside from a $22,500 check for his third-place finish in Saturday's Shoemaker

Handicap, the best thing about Journalism's race in the Grade II event is that he
appeared to come out of it in excellent shape.

The 7-year-old gelding has a history of bleeding, but trainer Wally Dollase said

nary a trickle was evident following the race.

"He didn't bleed a bit. We didn't even scope him," Dollase said.
"He ran a hellluva race, I'm very proud of him," the trainer added. "Give the

winner a lot of credit. Frankel's horse in the entry (Bon Point) pressured him hard, but it
didn't stop the winner a bit."

Dollase said Journalism's next race might be in the $85,000 Khaled Handicap on

July 23. The Khaled, 1 1/16 miles on turf, is one of three stakes races for Cal-breds to
be run on the undercard to the $500,000 Swaps Stakes.

FINISH LINES: Congratulations to trainer Bill Shoemaker, who posted his first

victory of the meet Saturday with Canaska Dancer in a $48,000 allowance race on
grass. Actually, The Shoe was in the winner's circle twice Saturday. He was also on
hand to greet owners Nancy Rice, Terry Hatcher and Wesley Ward following
Unfinished Symph's victory in the $150,000-added Shoemaker Handicap (Gr. II) . . .
Silver Music, who defeated Dramatic Gold by four lengths in the 1994 Swaps Stakes
(Gr. II), continues to be plagued by a mysterious foot ailment, trainer Wally Dollase
said . . . Terry Garrison, owner of Houston Sunrise, was pleased with his colt's
showing in Saturday's $100,000-added Harry Henson Stakes, but said he had the
misfortune to run into Mr Purple, whose 1:27 2/5 clocking was just three ticks off of the
world record for 7 1/2 furlongs. "I thought our horse ran a good race, but what do we
have to do to win? Go to Yakima Meadows?"

Trainer Dan Hendricks said he is considering the $200,000-guaranteed Golden

Gate Handicap (Gr. II) on June 24 or the $100,000-added Jim Murray Handicap at
Hollywood Park on July 1 for turf marathoner Liyoun . . . Ron McAnally said Harry
Henson Stakes winner Mr Purple came out of the race in good shape and will run next
in either the $125,000-added Affirmed Handicap (Gr. III) on July 2 or the $500,000
Swaps Stakes (Gr. II) on July 23. "He's learned to rate now," McAnally said of the son
of Deputy Minister. "He was just learning what it was all about before, and it's made a
difference." . . . Santa Anita Handicap winner Urgent Request worked seven furlongs on
Hollywood Park's fast main track Sunday morning in preparation for the Hollywood Gold
Cup. Rodney Rash supervised the drill, which was timed in 1:28 3/5 . . . Mel Stute,
who sent out Score Quick to finish second in the Harry Henson just seven days after
winning an allowance race on June 3, figured he might have won Saturday's race, in
retrospect. "I forgot to blow him out before the race," the trainer laughed.

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