&
     Darren Rogers

Saturday, November 23, 1996


KIMMEL RETURNS TO $2.15-MILLION TURF FESTIVAL WITH LOADED GUNS

Trainer John Kimmel, who captured the 1995 Generous Stakes (Gr. II) with Old Chapel, plans to return to Hollywood Park with a pair Turf Festival runners. The New York-based trainer has Devil's Cup readying for the $500,000 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby (Gr. I) on Dec. 1, and is eyeing a second-straight win in the $250,000 Generous with supplemental entry Serotonin.

"Hopefully the Kimmel-Stevens combo can pull it off again," Kimmel said, referring to his winning combination with Old Chapel, the 1995 Generous winner.

Serotonin, a 2-year-old son of Cure The Blues, will make his turf debut in the Generous.

"When Gary Stevens rode Serotonin his first time out, I told him to ride with confidence," Kimmel said. "So Gary settled him into his stride early, and when he asked him a little bit, (Serotonin) blew by the field and won by six. But when Gary got off the horse, he said that he thought Serotonin would be much better on the grass."

The chestnut colt came back two weeks later in the Cowdin Stakes (Gr. II) at Aqueduct, where he finished fourth in the seven-furlong contest, 1 1/2 lengths behind the leader.

"It was a short turnaround to the Cowdin," Kimmel said. "It's not usually my 'm.o.' to send a maiden against graded stakes company, but we decided to take a shot. He never had a chance to settle -- he raced greenly. He has a lot more talent in there. He finished behind Just a Cat and Jules -- two of the leading 2-year-olds out East."

Old Chapel scored as the 7-5 favorite in last year's Generous.

"Old Chapel had a tremendous amount of experience on turf," Kimmel said. "Saratonin has been working brilliantly. If Gary's right, and he prefers the grass, and his works over the grass are any barometer, he should run very well."

Kimmel will also saddle Devil's Cup in the Crown Royal Hollywood Derby.

"He's an improving 3-year-old who's training very well," Kimmel said. "He deserves a shot. He should handle the turf course out there extremely well."

Devil's Cup most recently finished second in the Knickerbocker Handicap (Gr. III) at Aqueduct, his best race to date.

"In a race like that with 14 horses, a lot of things can happen," Kimmel said. "But my horse ran a good number last time. It was a six on the 'sheets', or a 104 Beyer Speed figure, and I expect improvement from him. So that puts him right in the heat of things."


DRYSDALE HAS PAIR FOR $300,000 CITATION: 'LOMBARDIA AND "THE WIZARD"

Trainer Neil Drysdale, who saddled 1995 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby winner Labeeb, has a pair of turf runners pointed for the $300,000 Citation Handicap (Gr. II) on Saturday, Nov. 30.

"Via Lombardia is coming back into form," Drysdale said of the Grade III winner. "He ran very well the other night. Beau Jingles had an uncontested lead, and he closed well from last. I was very pleased with the race."

A 4-year-old son of Shardari, Via Lombardia captured the Will Rogers and Cinema, a pair of Grade III handicaps last summer at Hollywood Park. Henry Pabst's colt, although winless in his last seven efforts, owns two wins and a second from four starts over the local turf.

Drysdale's other hopeful is 6-year-old Silver Wizard, who ran third behind Fastness in the 1995 edition of the Citation.

"Silver Wizard had an easy little race at Oak Tree and he's coming up to the race in good shape," Drysdale said of his third-place allowance effort on Oct. 25, his first start since May.


WALKUP START BELIEVED TO BE FIRST OF ITS KIND

Friday night's walkup start in Hollywood Park's featured eighth race -- a $55,000 allowance at 1 1/4 miles on turf -- is believed to be the first of its kind at The Track of the Lakes and Flowers and anywhere else on the Southern California circuit.

"It might of happened," said steward Pete Pedersen, "but to my knowledge and with speaking to others, it hasn't happened in modern racing (around here)."

The back wheels of the starting gate for turf races were frozen.

"We wanted to use the main track's starting gate, but the turf gate would have been stuck in it's path," Pedersen said. "It was a real concern, because we thought we might have to cancel the race. But a rule in the book gave us the opportunity for the old 'lap and tap' start."

C.H.R.B. Rule No. 1696 gives the stewards the privilege to conduct a walkup start in an emergency situation.

"There have been starts dating back to the early years on the circuit where they used webbing, a bar gate and stationary stalls," Pedersen said. "Nothing like this, though. All the credit has to go to the assistant starters. They did an excellent job."

Mister Alleged, owned by Cohen & Red Baron's Barn, won the race under Brice Blanc for trainer Darrell Vienna in his first U.S. start.


FULL WEEKEND OF SIMULCASTS ON TAP

Sunday's simulcast lineup at The Track of the Lakes and Flowers includes five stakes from Turf Paradise: Claiming Stakes, 1:45 p.m.; AQHA Distance Challenge, 2:15 p.m.; Sooner Trailer Derby, 2:45 p.m., American Airlines Juvenile, 3:15 p.m., and the AQHA Challenge Cup, 3:45 p.m.


HOLLYPARK'S $2.15-MILLION TURF FESTIVAL NEARS

SIX GRADED STAKES ON TURF SLATED FOR THANKSGIVING WEEKEND (NOV. 29-DEC. 1)

Sunday, Dec. 1

$700,000 Matriarch (Gr. I) for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf

Admise 4F in :49 2/5 at SA on Nov. 18; 4th in Nov. 3 Yellow Ribbon; Greenman trains

Alpride 5F in 1:00 2/5 at SA on Nov. 18; 6th in Nov. 3 Yellow Ribbon at SA; McAnally trains

Auriette 7F in 1:26 on Nov. 20; 4th in Oct. 26 Lou Rowan H. at SA; M. Jones trains

Bail Out Becky DQ'd from 1st in Nov. 16 Cardinal H. at CD; 5th in Aug. 24 Beverly D. at AP; Mott trains

De Puntillas 6F in 1:14 1/5 at SA on Nov. 23; won 1 1/8 M (T) alw. at SA on Oct. 27; Hess trains

Dixie Pearl 4F in :49 on Nov. 19; 3rd in Nov. 3 Yellow Ribbon at SA; Mandella trains

Duda 3rd in Oct. 25 Dowager at Kee; won 1995 Matriarch; Mott trains

Hollywood Dream (s) due to arrive from Europe; 2nd in Nov. 10 Premio Roma at San Siro (Ity); Uwe Ostmann trains

Memories of Silver (s) 5th in $1-million BC Mile at WO on Oct. 26; James Toner trains

Olimpia Dukakis 7F in 1:26 3/5 at SA on Nov. 16; 2nd in 1 1/8 M (T) alw. at SA on Oct. 27; McAnally trains

Real Connection (s) 7F (T) in 1:27 3/5 on Nov. 20; 2nd in Nov. 3 Yellow Ribbon at SA; Mel Stute trains

Timarida 6F (T) in 1:16 4/5 on Nov. 20; 3rd in Gr. I Champion S. at Newmarket; John Oxx trains

Wandesta 5F in 1:01 on Nov. 19; 5th in Nov. 3 Yellow Ribbon at SA; won Oct. 13 Las Palmas; Frankel trains

Windsharp 7F (T) in 1:27 3/5 on Nov. 20; 5th in $2-million BC Turf at WO on Oct. 26; Dollase trains

Sunday, Dec. 1

$500,000 Crown Royal Hollywood Derby (Gr. I) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf

Astor Place (s) 1M (T) in 1:41 2/5 on Nov. 17; import trained by McAnally

Currency Arbitrage 2nd in Oct. 27 Mohawk H. at Aqu.; Gary Sciacca trains

Devil's Cup 2nd in Nov. 5 Knickerbocker at Aqu; John Kimmel trains

Jirhan 5F in 1:01 2/5 at SA on Nov. 17; won 1 1/16 M alw. on Nov. 9; Mike Puype trains

Lago (s) 3F in :36 at SA on Nov. 13; 2nd in Nov. 16 turf alw. & Oct. 20 Volante H. at SA; James Marini trains

Le Triton (s) won 1 1/8-mile turf alw. at CD by 4 1/2 len. on Nov. 10 -- U.S. debut; Mott trains son of El Gran Senor

Marlin 5F in 1:00 at SA on Nov. 18; 13th in $2-million BC Turf; Lukas trains

Mystic Knight 4F in :49 2/5 on Nov. 15; 5th in Nov. 4 Carleton F. Burke H. at SA; Noseda trains

New York New York 3rd in Oct. 22 Coupe des Poulains du Fonds at Deauville; Maurice Zilber trains

OK by Me won Oct. 25 Sky Classic at WO; H. James Bond trains

Rainbow Blues 1M (T) in 1:38 1/5 on Nov. 16; 3rd in Oct. 20 Volante H. at SA; Whittingham trains

Take A Bow 4F in :47 at SA on Nov. 11; won MdSpWt at SA on Oct. 31; Mike Orman trains

Take A Left (s) 5F in 1:03 3/5 on Nov. 18; won one-mile turf alw. on Nov. 8; Noseda trains

The Barking Shark 6F in 1:13 2/5 at SA on Nov. 18; 7th in Nov. 8 Steinlen; Marcelo Polanco trains

Trail City 2nd in Oct. 19 Hawthorne Derby at Haw; Mott trains

True Flare (f) 7F in 1:27 2/5 on Nov. 19; 4th in Oct. 5 Queen Elizabeth II at Kee; Frankel trains

Saturday, Nov. 30

$300,000 Citation Handicap (Gr. II) for 3-year-olds & up at 1 1/8 miles on turf

Beau Jingles (s) won Nov. 8 Steinlen and Oct. 12 Henry P. Russell at SA; Hofmans trains

Eltish 5F in 1:01 2/5 on Nov. 18; 5th in Nov. 3 Sport Page H. at Aqu.; Frankel trains

Gentlemen 1M (T) in 1:41 on Nov. 17; won Sept. 28 Bay Meadows H. at BM; Mandella trains

Helmsman 5F in :59 on Nov. 15; 6th in $1-million BC Mile at WO on Oct. 26; Dollase trains

Silver Wizard 7F in 1:27 4/5 on Nov. 17; 3rd in Oct. 25 alw. at SA; Drysdale trains

Talloires 5F (T) in 1:06 2/5 on Nov. 17; 6th in $2-million BC Turf; Mandella trains

Via Lombardia 2nd in Nov. 8 Steinlen; Drysdale trains

Friday, Nov. 29

$200,000 Hollywood Turf Express (Gr. III), 3-year-olds & up at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf

Ali'lbito'reality 7th in Aug. 18 Basil Hall at Pimlico; Cam Gambolati trains

Cyrano Storme 5F in :59 on Nov. 16; 2nd in July 12 Rick Lozano at HP; Dupuis trains

Promising Wonder 5F (T) in 1:04 1/5 (yielding) on Nov. 23; 5th in Jan. 20 alw. at SA; Sise trains

Sandtrap 4F in :46 4/5 on Nov. 19; 6th in Oct. 27 Morvich H. at SA; Cecil trains

Ski Dancer (f) 6F in 1:12 4/5 on Nov. 18; 4th in Oct. 27 Morvich H. at SA; Marty Jones trains

Suggest 5F (T) in 1:00 4/5 on Nov. 17; 5th in Feb. 14 alw. at SA; Mandella trains

Track Gal (s) (f) 5F in :58 3/5 at SA on Nov. 17; 2nd in Oct. 26 Louis Rowan H. at SA; Sadler trains

Wild Zone 4F in :49 1/5 on Nov. 19; 2nd in Oct. 27 Morvich H. at SA; Dollase trains

Saturday, Nov. 30

$250,000 Generous Stakes (Gr. III) for 2-year-olds at one mile on turf

Bagshot (s) 6F (T) in 1:14 2/5 on Nov. 17; 3rd in Nov. 2 Cal Cup Juvenile; Paco Gonzalez trains

Churchland (s) 6F (T) in 1:17 3/5 (yielding) on Nov. 23; Richard Cross trains

Daylight In Dubai (s) 6th in Oct. 26 Gr. I Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster; Noseda trains

Demolition Man (s) 3F in :36 on Nov. 20; 3rd in Nov. 11 Precisionist; Shoemaker trains

Divine Insight 10th in Oct. 5 Champagne at Bel; H. James Bond trains

Falkenham (s) 6F in 1:14 4/5 at SA on Nov. 20; 5th in BC Juvenile; Michael Harte trains

Hello (s) won Gr. I Gran Criterium at San Siro (Ity) on Oct. 20; McAnally trains

Oakhurst won Nov. 9 MdSpWt on turf; Hofmans trains

Play Waki for Me 6F (T) in 1:14 4/5 on Nov. 17; gate scr. in Nov. 11 Precisionist; 3rd in Sept. 21 Ky Cup Juv.; Bradshaw

Serotonin (s) won debut by six lengths at Bel. on Oct. 12; John Kimmel trains son of Cure the Blues

Steel Ruhlr (s) 4F in :46 3/5 on Nov. 20; 2nd in Nov. 11 Precisionist; Fidel Cardiel trains

Swiss Yodeler 7F in 1:24 3/5 on Nov. 20; 7th in Nov, 11 Precisionist; Mike Harrington trains

Zippersup 6F in 1:14 1/5 at SA on Nov. 23; 7th in $1-million BC Juvenile on Oct. 26; Baffert trains

Friday, Nov. 29

$200,000 Miesque Stakes (Gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies at one mile on turf

Ascutney 3rd in Oct. 20 Miss Grillo at Bel.; David Donk trains

Clever Pilot 4F in :49 on Nov. 18; 4th Nov. 6 Jim Hill S.; Dominguez trains

Critical Factor 6F (T) in 1:15 4/5 on Nov. 17; 3rd in $1-million BC Juvenile Fillies; Myung Kwon Cho trains

Montecito (s) 4F in :50 2/5 at SA on Nov. 17; won Nov. 6 Jim Hill Stakes; Lukas trains

Pun (s) 3F in :35 at SA on Nov. 20; Kathy Walsh trains

Rexy Sexy (s) 6F (T) in 1:15 1/5 on Nov. 17; won Nov. 2 Cal Cup Juv. Fillies at SA; Brian Lynch trains

Wealthy 5F (T) in 1:00 3/5 on Nov. 17; 3rd in Oct. 5 Oak Leaf at SA; Hofmans trains


FINISH LINES: Jimmy Jones, the legendary trainer of Citation, celebrates his 90th birthday Saturday. . .The Bob Hess-trained De Puntillas, aimed at the $700,000 Matriarch on Dec. 1, worked six furlongs over a fast main track at Santa Anita on Saturday morning in 1:14 4/5. . .Zippersup, seventh in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile, worked six furlongs at the Arcadia track in 1:14 1/5 for next Saturday's $250,000 Generous Stakes. . .Promising Wonder, trained by Cliff Sise, worked five furlongs on turf around the dogs Saturday morning in 1:04 1/5, in preparation for Friday's $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express (Gr. III). Hollywood Park's turf course was labeled as yielding on Saturday morning. . .Churchland, a $10,000 late nomination to the $250,000 Generous Stakes by trainer Richard Cross, went an easy six furlongs on turf in 1:17 3/5. . .Multiple graded stakes winner Romarin, who finished seventh in the July 4 American Handicap, drilled five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 over a muddy main track at Hollywood Park on Saturday morning. . .Hollywood Prevue winner In Excessive Bull went six panels at Santa Anita in 1:14 1/5. The son of In Excess could make his next start in the $250,000 Hollywood Futurity (Gr. I) on Dec. 15. . .Linda Vista Handicap victress Listening, possible for the Dec. 8 Bayakoa Handicap, drilled six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 at Santa Anita. . .Isitingood, winner of the Oct. 19 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland, worked seven furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:28 3/5. Bob Baffert has Mike Pegram's horse geared toward the Nov. 29 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. . . Cromwell, an unraced 2-year-old son of A.P. Indy out of the mare Rapping, drilled four furlongs in :49 2/5 at Santa Anita for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The colt was a $700,000 purchase. . .Flash Notes will return Saturday, Nov. 29.


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