Only two trainers have won the Affirmed Handicap twice - Jay Robbins and the late Laz Barrera - and Robbins will seek a record third on Saturday when sending out Indian Ocean in the $100,000-added Grade III test for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
"He's as good as Raise A Stanza but there aren't too many Tiznows," said Robbins Sunday when asked to compare the colt to his previous Affirmed winners in 1989 and 2000, respectively.
Indian Ocean, a Florida-bred son of Stormy Atlantic, will seek his third straight victory in his fourth outing under regular rider Jon Court. The Mercedes Stables-owned colt comes off an allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles here on May 25.
"He has a lot of potential but does some dumb things, too," said Robbins. "He shied from the stick last time and still has trouble changing leads. I thought he took a step backward in his last race off his maiden win.
"I plan to work him five-eighths tomorrow," said the Santa Anita-based Robbins. "He will ship over Friday to gallop and school."
Other probable starters include Santa Anita Derby winner Buzzards Bay (Victor Espinoza), Surf Cat (Alex Solis), Khyber Pass (David Flores) and Dover Dere.
Khyber Pass, an allowance winner here on April 27, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds Sunday for the Vladimir Cerin stable. Buzzards Bay, readying for his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on May 7, is scheduled to work on Monday.
A list of possibles includes El Roblar, Shamoan, Splendid Blended and Yes He's A Pistol, who worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 for trainer Paddy Gallagher.
Hollywood Starlet winner Splendid Blended was scheduled to be flown back from New York Sunday following a fourth-place finish in the Acorn Stakes in her seasonal debut on June 4. Trainer Neil Drysdale said the filly was unlikely to run in the Affirmed but did not rule out the possibility.
The last filly to win the race was the brilliant Melair in 1986 when the race was called the Silver Screen Handicap.
The Affirmed serves as a prep for the $400,000-added Swaps Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 9.
BORREGO, SKUKUZA WORK FOR CALIFORNIAN
Borrego and Skukuza worked at Hollywood Park on Sunday for the $250,000 Californian here Saturday. The Grade II test at 1 1/8 miles serves as a prep for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on July 9.
Borrego, third-place finisher in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap in his last start on May 14, worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 for trainer Beau Greely. Skukuza, runner-up in an allowance race here on May 14, worked seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 for the John Sadler stable.
Garrett Gomez has the call back on Borrego while Rene Douglas will again be aboard Skukuza.
Other probable starters include Mervyn LeRoy Handicap winner Ace Blue (David Flores), Molengao (Alex Solis), Anziyan Royalty, Lava Man and Outta Here.
Also under consideration as a supplementary entry is Choctaw Nation, third-place finisher in the Dubai World Cup in his last start on March 26. Last year trainer Jeff Mullins sent out Choctaw Nation to upset Pleasantly Perfect in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. Victor Espinoza has the tentative call.
Mullins, who supplemented Castledale to win the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile here on May 30, is in England this week with sprinter Mighty Beau for stakes competition in the Royal Ascot meet at York. Assistant Ral Ayers is overseeing the Mullins division here.
BRUNETTI ENJOYS WHITTINGHAM VICTORY FROM NEW YORK
Trainer Ron McAnally savored a victory by Sweet Return in Saturday's $350,000, Grade I Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap and was thankful that he was able to persuade owner John Brunetti to leave the 5-year-old horse here to run.
"John was at the Belmont Stakes and watched the race from New York," said McAnally on Sunday. "Because John was at Belmont, Sweet Return was also nominated to the Manhattan Handicap there, where John would have liked to see him run. But we studied the race here at the beginning of the week, considered the speed and concluded this was a better spot."
Sweet Return went wire to wire under Alex Solis for his second Grade I victory on the turf here. He also led all the way in the 2003 Hollywood Derby.
"He ate everything up and looked good this morning," said McAnally, plans for the horse not yet formulated.
McAnally said he needed a few days to pass before he could confidently say how a horse came back from a race. "A few years ago, I won the Hollywood Gold Cup for Max Gluck with a horse named Pay Tribute (1976)," said McAnally. "He came out of the race good and ate up the next day. The first time we took him to the track four days later he came back dead lame. We X-rayed him and found he had fractured his knee. I learned my lesson then not to say anything positive until after a horse goes back to the track."
Trainer Neil Drysdale said that Red Fort, the even-money favorite who finished a head back in second, returned in good order. "The Eddie Read Handicap (July 24 at Del Mar) is next," said Drysdale. "I hope there will be more pace in that race."
ACK ACK LEADERS HEADING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
Trainer Paddy Gallagher, ecstatic over a victory by McCann's Mojave in the $91,300 Ack Ack Handicap Saturday in his first start in his barn, said the 5-year-old horse would probably return in the $350,000 Triple Bend Handicap at seven furlongs here on July 3, the same afternoon he will saddle Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap winner Three Degrees in the $750,000 American Oaks.
Trainer Richard Mandella was satisfied with the runner-up effort by Congrats in his first start since the Dubai World Cup on March 26 and said he would probably come back in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9.
Trainer Rafael Becerra said that third-place finisher St Averil and recent allowance winner Saint Buddy are both under consideration for the Grade I Triple Bend. "Saint Buddy is the more likely for the Triple Bend," said Becerra. "I may try to stretch St Averil out."
SHIRREFFS, GIACOMO RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD PARK
Trainer John Shirreffs returned to work at Hollywood Park Sunday morning, and Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo - seventh-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes Saturday - was scheduled to follow Sunday afternoon.
"I got back at 2 a.m. from New York but I didn't make it to work until 6:45," said Shirreffs. "I had to wait for the Starbuck's in Arcadia to open at 6 before I made it over."
Asked about Giacomo's disappointing seventh-place finish, Shirreffs said, "I thought he was way too close (to the early pace). He comes from way off it."
Shirreffs said the detention barn at Belmont convinced him to keep Santa Margarita Handicap winner Tarlow here rather than ship her east for the Ogden Phipps Handicap this Saturday, as originally planned.
FINISH LINES-Rene Douglas will ride 9-year-old millionaire Continental Red in the $75,000-added Quicken Tree Stakes for California-breds at 1 1/2 miles on turf Saturday. Also under consideration are Drake's Victory, Frankelstein, Hot Grip, Legal Logic, Ms Mintons Excess, Perfect Mode and Power Boy...Trainer Mike Harrington said that Proctor Memorial Stakes winner Wild Uncle Kurt (Isaias Enriquez) will return in the $75,000-added Haggin Stakes for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs next Sunday in a lineup also expected to include the David LaCroix-trained duo of Corazondelcampeon and Always Royal and Case Study...Trainer Neil Drysdale said that highly regarded 3-year-old colt Fusaichi Samurai, who finished last by 19 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong allowance race at six furlongs in his seasonal bow on Saturday, will be given some time off. "He's going to the farm for some R&R and should be back in August," said Drysdale...Unbeaten Legal Precedent worked six furlongs on turf in 1:14 4/5 Sunday for trainer Ben Cecil for a probable return in the $150,000-added Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf June 26...Jockey Martin Pedroza will be gone Friday, Saturday and Sunday to attend to personal matters in his native Panama, according to agent Rich Silverstein...Trainer Dan McFarlane said that Senorita Stakes winner Virden has been bothered by a foot ailment but is hoping to make the $100,000-added Flawlessly Stakes with her on July 4...Trainer Doug O'Neill said that Supah Blitz should resurface in either the Triple Bend Handicap on July 3 or the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9...Illinois Derby winner Greeley's Galaxy worked a mile in 1:44 2/5 for trainer Warren Stute.
