Jockey Victor Espinoza won the Kentucky Derby aboard War Emblem in 2002. But when the Derby is run for the 134th time Saturday, Espinoza will be at Hollywood Park aboard El Roblar in the $100,000-added Inglewood Handicap, a Grade III test at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
El Roblar, a 6-year-old horse with five victories in 13 starts, is unbeaten in two outings here. He won the Ack Ack Handicap here last June before going to the sidelines for the remainder of the year and returning with a
third-place finish in the Potrero Grande Handicap at Santa Anita April 5.
"He's had his comeback race and has been training well," said trainer Richard Mandella of the Stonestreet Stables standard-bearer. Espinoza seeks his fourth Inglewood victory in nine years after scores with Montemiro in 2000, Night Patrol in 2002 and Willow O Wisp in 2006.
El Roblar will be challenged by a Bobby Frankel-trained triumvirate of Hello Sunday, Heroi do Bafra and Storm Military. Frankel said Sunday from Kentucky that he had lined up jockeys Aaron Gryder, Martin Garcia and Josse Valdivia, Jr., for the trio.
Frankel, a four-time Inglewood winner, last won the race in 2004 with Leroidesanimaux, who later would go on to win an Eclipse Award. He also won with Johnny's Image in 1979, Al Mamoon in 1985 and Fateful Dream in 2001.
SANTA TERESITA SEEKS FOURTH STRAIGHT IN HAWTHORNE
Santa Teresita has come a long way since breaking her maiden in her fourth start at the Autumn meet here in December. The 4-year-old filly came back to win an allowance race at Santa Anita in March and the Santa Lucia Handicap in her stakes bow April 12.
The Kentucky-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid seeks to stretch her victory streak to four here next Sunday in the $100,000-added Hawthorne Handicap, a Grade III test for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track.
"She worked five furlongs in 59 here Friday and really likes this surface," said trainer David Hofmans, anxious to see the Equine Prep Management color-bearer make her graded stakes bow. Joseph Talamo has the call back.
Santa Teresita will face her toughest competition in a lineup expected to include 2007 Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks winner Tough Tiz's Sis (Aaron Gryder), La Canada Stakes winner Dawn After Dawn (Victor Espinoza) and Las Flores Handicap runner-up Glorified (Rafael Bejarano). Glorified worked six furlongs in 1:14.80 Sunday for trainer Ron Ellis.
KENTUCKY DERBY TO HAVE STRONG LOCAL FLAVOR
The Kentucky Derby, which which will be simulcast here Saturday, will again have a strong Southern California flavor.
Colonel John, to be ridden by Corey Nakatani for trainer Eoin Harty, came to prominence with a victory in the Real Quiet Stakes and a runner-up finish in the CashCall Hollywood Futurity during the Autumn Meet.
Gayego, to be ridden by Mike Smith, has been stabled here year-round with trainer Paulo Lobo. He broke his maiden here last fall November 18, the same day Colonel John won the Real Quiet, and comes out of a victory in the Arkansas Derby.
Lobo and Smith flew back to Hollywood Park Saturday for competing horses in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap after Gayego worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Churchill Downs to the satisfaction of the pair.
Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bob Black Jack, a California-bred, has been flown to Kentucky although he remains on the bubble of the 20-maximum entry list. Richard Migliore has taken a call to ride the colt and will fly to Kentucky Sunday night and work him Monday in hopes he gets in, according to agent Tom Knust.
David Flores has taken a call on Coolmore Lexington Stakes winner Behindatthebar for trainer Todd Pletcher, according to agent Brad Pegram, although a final decision has not been reached whether the colt will be entered.
Rafael Bejarano, in his first year in California, will ride Anak Nakal, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill in November, for trainer Nick Zito.
Monba, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes in his last start for Pletcher, was a fast-closing fourth in the Hollywood Futurity. The Futurity has been a launching site for six Kentucky Derby winners: Gato del Sol in 1982, Ferdinand in 1986, Alysheba in 1987, Thunder Gulch in 1995, Real Quiet in 1998 and Giacomo in 2005.
SURF CAT COULD FACE HEATSEEKER, TIAGO IN CALIFORNIAN
Trainer Bruce Headley said that Surf Cat, who Saturday became the first two-time winner of the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap in the 29-year history of the race, could return in the $250,000 Californian, a race in which he could face Heatseeker and Tiago, on May 31.
Heatseeker, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, worked five furlongs in a bullet :59.20 here Sunday for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Tiago edged Heatseeker in a photo finish in their last starts in the Oaklawn Handicap April 5.
Headley indicated the only other option he is considering for Surf Cat is the $600,000 Metropolitan Mile at Belmont on May 26. Trainer Craig Dollase, ecstatic over an eight-length romp by Monterey Jazz in the Texas Mile Handicap at Lone Star Park under David Flores Saturday, said the horse would return to his stable here Tuesday and probably make his next start in the Met Mile.
Trainer Gary Mandella, pleased with a six-length allowance romp by Albertus Maximus here Wednesday, said the Californian, Met Mile and Lone Star Handicap May 26 are all under consideration for the colt.
Trainer David Hofmans was proud of a game runner-up effort by Desert Code in the Mervyn LeRoy. "He's matured and looks like he can get the distance now," said Hofmans after Desert Code set most of the pace and fought back gamely before finishing a half-length back. "He got beat by a real good horse."
Trainer A.C. Avila was equally happy with a third-place finish by
Argentine import Global Hunter in his stateside debut.
MULHALL SAVORS HARRY HENSON VICTORY
Kristin Mulhall had special reason to celebrate Sky Cape's victory in the $77,500 Harry Henson Stakes for 3-year-olds on grass Friday night.
Not only was Mulhall the winning trainer and co-owner under her nom de course, Visionary Racing, but the 25-year-old also posted her first stakes victory as a breeder.
"I bought Sky Cape's dam, Skyscape, out of a Thoroughbred Corp. dispersal sale at Keeneland," explained Mulhall Sunday. "Every one I've had out of that mare has been a little crazy."
Sky Cape, a chestnut colt winning for the third time in 12 starts, fit into that category. "He's sort of a head case," said Mulhall. "You've just got to take him back and get him to relax."
Victor Espinoza, pinch-hitting for regular rider Corey Nakatani--who was on a plane to Florida for a stakes commitment the following day--followed instructions to a tee, rallying four-wide into the stretch from sixth to post a 1 ¼-length victory over Two Step Salsa in stakes-record time of 1:08.49 for six furlongs on turf. Espinoza, returning from a three-day suspension, won the race for the second straight year.
"I think he can get a mile if he relaxes, but I think I'm going to keep him sprinting now," said Mulhall, considering a return in the $100,000-added Grade III Laz Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs on Cushion Track May 18.
Mulhall meanwhile has several other Skyscape foals to keep her occupied in the future. "She just had a Sky Mesa baby and is in foal to Tale of the Cat," said Mulhall. "And I just got a 2-year-old colt by Officer that looks like he may be her best. He should be ready around the end of this meet."
FINISH LINES--Trainer Jim Cassidy reported that Diamond Diva, winner of the opening-day Wilshire Handicap for fillies and mares at one mile on turf Wednesday, will be stretched out to nine furlongs for a return in the $250,000 Grade I Gamely Stakes on May 26...Trainer Bobby Frankel reported that turf star Champs Elysees will probably make his next start here May 10 in the $250,000 Jim Murray Handicap, a race he has won a record six times…Frankel-trained Costume, female turf champion of the Santa Anita meet, worked five furlongs in 1:01 breezing on Cushion Track for a probable start in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes here May 26...Trainer Bruce Headley said that he has more ammo than Surf Cat for stakes competition here. He is also readying Street Boss for the Los Angeles Handicap May 10 and Overly Tempting for the Desert Stormer Handicap May 17...Joel Rosario has taken a call to ride High Standards for trainer Marty Jones in the Los Angeles Handicap…Trainer Craig Dollase is pointing PSU Grad for the Railbird Stakes May 11. He also said than an illness has compromised Awesome Gem's plans for this meet but he hoped to have the handicap star back from the farm in a few weeks…Jockey Corey Nakatani returned here for the Sunday card after finishing unplaced aboard In Summation in the $214,500 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint Championship at Calder Saturday.
