DOLLASE HAS ALYROB READY FOR LAZ BARRERA
Trainer Wally Dollase has always had high hopes for Alyrob, and expects good things from his 3-year-old in Sunday's $100,000-added Lazaro S. Barrera (Gr. III). The son of Alysheba was given time off following his eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (Gr. I). The Barrera will mark his second start back after the five-month layoff.
"The time away has paid off," Dollase said. "He's doing great right now."
Alyrob ran a strong second behind Elmhurst on Oct. 18, racing against older horses for the first time. He'll be back in against 3-year-olds in Sunday's contest.
"He had a minor injury after the Derby," Dollase said. "We wanted to make sure it was completely out of his system."
With only seven starts, the gelding is still learning how to get things done on the racetrack.
"He's such an immature horse," Dollase said. "He's like a little kid. He acts like a 2-year-old even now. He's been in the Kentucky Derby, and he still doesn't know what he's doing."
In other developments:
Victory Speech went four furlongs in :50 at Santa Anita on Monday morning.
Probables for the $100,000-added Lazaro S. Barrera (Gr. III) for 3-year-olds, to be run Sunday at 1 1/16 miles on the main track: Alyrob, Corey Nakatani, 117; Don't Blame Rio, Alex Solis, 117; Future Quest, Kent Desormeaux, 117; Victory Speech, Gary Stevens, 123; Northern Afleet, Chris McCarron, 114, and Zanferrier, Goncalino Almeida, 114.
McANALLY TO AIM DIFFERENT, ALPRIDE FOR MATRIARCH
Trainer Ron McAnally announced that Different and Alpride would contest the $700,000 Matriarch (Gr. I) on Dec. 1. The championship-caliber race could pit as many as a dozen Grade I winners against each other.
"We're going to run both of them in the Matriarch," McAnally said.
The 16th running of the Matriarch is shaping up as the race for the Eclipse Award for leading turf filly or mare. One filly who could stake claim to the Eclipse with a win in the Matriarch would be Sid Craig's Different.
"I think she would have a chance if she won," McAnally said.
The versatile Argentinean import owns Grade I wins on turf and dirt this season. She finished third behind Jewel Princess as the 6-5 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (Gr. I) in her last start.
"She didn't handle the track at Woodbine," McAnally said. "She's already won over this turf course."
The Candy Stripes filly triumphed in the Beverly Hills Handicap (Gr. I) at Hollywood in her only U.S. race over the green. Regular rider Chris McCarron will be aboard Different in the Matriarch.
Alpride took the 1995 Yellow Ribbon (Gr. I) at Santa Anita, but is winless in six starts this year. She heads to the Matriarch off a third in the Las Palmas (Gr. II) and a sixth in the Yellow Ribbon last time out.
"She got a bad ride," McAnally said of the Yellow Ribbon performance. "She didn't run her best that day."
TIMARIDA WORKING FOR MATRIARCH
Timarida, who was scratched from the Yellow Ribbon Stakes (Gr. I) due to a fever, could make her next start in the Matriarch (Gr. I) on Dec. 1.
"She seems to be making a good recovery," Oxx said from his home in Ireland. "She's exercising every day, eating good and her temperature is down."
The 4-year-old filly has been victorious in two North American starts. She captured the E. P. Taylor (Gr. II) at Woodbine last fall, and shipped in to take the Beverly D. (Gr. I) this summer at Arlington. She is stabled at Santa Anita, and will remain in Southern California to prepare for the Matriarch.
"She might work Thursday at Santa Anita, but it won't be anything strong," said Oxx, who saddled Ridgewood Pearl to capture the 1995 Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr. I). "It would be lovely to be able to run her in the Matriarch, but it is too early to say whether she will make the race."
GRAFIN BACK ON HOLLYWOOD TURF IN SATURDAY'S FLAWLESSLY
Grafin, a winner of two straight over the Hollywood turf this summer, returns to her preferred surface in Saturday's $60,000-added Flawlessly for fillies and mares.
"I didn't think she ran her race down at Del Mar," trainer Jeremy Noseda said of her fourth-place finish in the Osunitas Handicap on Aug. 24.
The daughter of Miswaki has won seven of 18 starts. She has four U.S. wins, all of which have come racing on the front end. Grafin wired allowance fields on May 24 and June 22, before checking in fifth behind Different in the Beverly Hills Handicap (Gr. I) on July 7.
"She ran real good all three times here at Hollywood," Noseda said. "I'm looking for her to step back up to that type of performance."
Other possibilities for the Flawlessly include Olimpia Dukakis, Radu Cool, Convertida and Above The Table.
WHERE TO GO NEXT WITH THE BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC WINNER
After saddling Alphabet Soup to capture the Breeders' Cup Classic, the only dilemma for trainer David Hofmans, is figuring out what the 5-year-old gray can do for an encore performance. The son of Cozzene is a relatively fresh horse, with only four races since March.
"We're keeping our options open," Hofmans said. "He's doing great right now. We're giving him a little breather. He'll probably run next at Santa Anita. But I have to talk to Mrs. Ridder. We might go in the Native Diver on closing day of Hollywood."
FINISH LINES: Trainer Neil Drysdale said Hollywood Derby (Gr. I) winner Labeeb is trotting and jogging, and is expected back during the Santa Anita meet . . . Drysdale has Via Lombardia and Silver Wizard aimed for the Citation Handicap (Gr. II) on Nov. 30. His long distance runners, Party Season and Time Star, will point for the Hollywood Turf Cup (Gr. I) on Dec. 15 . . . Trainer Ian Jory said Mateo will be pointed to the San Fernando, second leg of Santa Anita's Strub series. "We just have to find a race between now and then," he said . . . Sandpit breezed three furlongs in :39 3/5 . . . Cal Cup Sprint winner Testimony went three panels in :36 2/5 . . . Comininalittlehot went four furlongs in :48, as he readies for his engagement in the Dec. 8 Hong Kong Invitational Bowl (Gr. II) . . . Talloires went four furlongs in :51 3/5 in preparation for the Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 15 . . . Advancing Star drilled five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 . . . Chequer went five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 in preparation for the Clark Handicap on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs . . . Marlin worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 in preparation for the $500,000 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby on Dec. 1 . . . Track Gal breezed four furlongs in :47 3/5 at Santa Anita.
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