Photo: Hollywood Park
Two former Breeders’ Cup winners are among eight entered to
run in the $77,000 Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park.
An ungraded event at six furlongs on turf, the Kerlan is the
eighth of nine races Sunday. Post time is 1 p.m.
California Flag, who won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
at Santa Anita, will make his first start since finishing eighth in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.
Owned by breeder Hi Card Ranch and trained by Brian Koriner,
who won the 2006 Kerlan with Railroad, California Flag has won nine of 21. The
gelded son of Avenue of Flags and the Afleet mare Ultrafleet has earned
$1,166,504.
The California bred has won two of three over the Hollywood
Park grass, including the Grade III Hollywood Turf Express Handicap Nov. 29,
2008.
A 25-1 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 7, 2009 at
Santa Anita, Dancing in Silks has lost seven in a row since the biggest victory
of his career.
Owned by Ken Kinakin and now trained by Kathy Walsh - who
took over for Carla Gaines after the gelding finished sixth in an allowance
Dec. 30, 2010 at Santa Anita – Dancing in Silks will be seeking his second
career victory on turf.
Fourth of six in the Cool Frenchy Stakes in his most recent
start May 7, the 6-year-old son of Black Minnaloushe and the Royal and Regal
mare Lemhi Love has won seven of 20 while earning $1,492,715.
Trainer Doug O’Neill is scheduled to run a pair – Quick Enough
and Streakin’ Mohican.
Owned by Michael Bello, Russell Sarno and Suarez Racing,
Inc., Quick Enough is a graded stakes winner over the Hollywood Park grass,
having won the Grade III Morvich last Oct. 11 during the Oak Tree meet.
Claimed by his current connections for $40,000 last Aug. 5
at Del Mar, the 7-year-old High Brite gelding out of the Moscow Ballet mare
Donna B. Quick has won two of 10 since joining the O’Neill barn. Overall, the California bred has
eight wins in 22 attempts and earnings of $409,720.
Like Quick Enough, Streakin’ Mohican was a $40,000 claim.
Taken by O’Neill for a partnership that includes Dave Kenney, W.C. Racing and
Westsiderentals.com, the 4-year-old Songandaprayer gelding out of the Northern Afleet mare Teak Totem is 1-for-4 since the purchase.
The Florida
bred won an optional claimer at the Kerlan distance May 20. Streakin’ Mohican
has won seven of 27 and has a bankroll of $219,289.
Trainer John Sadler will seek his fourth Kerlan win when he
sends out Don Tito.
Owned by a partnership that includes Gary and Cecil Barber,
the 4-year-old son of Trippi and the Southern Halo mare Another Moochie has won
four of 11 and has earnings of $145,049. He won an optional claimer over the Hollywood Park turf May 21, winning by a
half-length at six furlongs.
Sadler’s most recent win in the race came with Get Funky in
2007. His earlier victories were Olympic Prospect, in the inaugural running in
1988, and Frost Free (1990).
Gallant Son will be looking for his first victory since he
won the Grade III Inglewood Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf April 25, 2010.
Trained by Frank Lucarelli for owners Randall and Rossi LLC,
the 5-year-old Malabar Gold horse and the Exploit mare Explicitly is 6-for-24
with earnings of $332,632. He has started eight times since the Inglewood. Most recently,
he was second behind longshot winner Our Nautique in the Grade III San
Francisco Mile April 30 at Golden Gate Fields.
Raetodandty and Cherokee Heaven, who finished 1-2 in an
optional claimer at six furlongs over the Hollywood Park turf June 18, complete
the field.
Trained by owner Val Brinkerhoff, Raetodandty, a 4-year-old
Freespool gelding out of the Peyrano mare Yazor, has won four of 10 while
earning $151,122.
A 7-year-old son of Cherokee Run and the Great Above mare Heaven’s
Nook, Cherokee Heaven has won six of 24 and earned $281,015. He is trained by
Hector Palma for owner Siquieros Baltazar. His current connections claimed the Kentucky bred for
$40,000 April 16 at Santa Anita.
From inside out, the field for the Robert K. Kerlan Memorial
Handicap: Gallant Son, Mike Smith rides, 116 pounds; Dancing in Silks, David
Flores, 118; Quick Enough, Patrick Valenzuela, 118; Don Tito, Joel Rosario,
116; Cherokee Heaven, Brice Blanc, 114; Raetodandty, Joe Talamo, 114; Streakin’
Mohican, Rafael Bejarano, 115 and California Flag, Tyler Baze, 122.