Fifteen
days removed from a gate-to-wire surprise in the Arcadia Stakes, Liberian Freighter
repeated with similar tactics in the $98,000 Inglewood Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park.
The
longest shot in a field reduced to four after Honour the Deputy and Kelly Leak
were scratched, Liberian Freighter immediately took command, relaxed kindly
under jockey Martin Garcia, then held on to defeat Ryehill Dreamer and a fast
finishing The Usual Q.T.
Owned
by Shawn Dugan, the wife of trainer Neil Drysdale, Charles Winner and the
Estate of Ed Nahem, Liberian Freighter won for the 10th time in 27
starts and increased his earnings to $733,740.
Bred
in California
by Nahem’s King Edward Racing Stable, Liberian Freighter is a 6-year-old gelded
son of Bertrando and the Slewpy mare Anachristina.
Winning
for the fifth time in nine starts over the Hollywood Park
turf course, Liberian Freighter paid $9.40 and $4 while completing the 1 1/16
miles in the Grade III in 1:39.70.
Ryehill
Dreamer, who finished a half-length behind the winner, paid $4.60 to place.
There was no show wagering.
Looking
for his third win in four tries on the local grass, The Usual Q.T. finished a
neck behind Ryehill Dreamer as the 2009 Hollywood Derby winner made up a lot of
ground in the final two furlongs in his first start since Jan. 29. The gelded
son of Unusual Heat finished 1 1 ½ lengths in front of 7-5 favorite Jeranimo,
who trailed throughout.
“This
horse just loves to run,’’ said Garcia. “He’s such a nice horse. If there was
more speed, I would have taken him back. I won the Oak Tree Mile (last Oct. 3)
with him from six lengths back. He likes this course a lot.’’
A
member of Racing’s Hall of Fame since 2000, Drysdale earned his second Inglewood victory. His
earlier win came with King of Happiness in 2005.
Cassidy
wasn’t displeased with the performance of The Usual Q.T., who had finished
second behind Caracortado in the Sunshine Millions Turf when last seen nearly
three months ago.
“He
had a lot of setbacks since his last race,’’ said Cassidy. “He had a big
abscess in his foot and his works were spotty.
“I
told (jockey) Victor (Espinoza) I thought those two (Liberian Freighter and
Ryehill Dreamer) would go fast up front and I didn’t want him in the mix
because I knew he’d need the race. It shows you how much class he has.’’
The
Player’s Pick 5 had its largest return yet Sunday when the 50-cent minimum
wager, which debuted Thursday, returned $27,647.95 to three perfect tickets.
Consolations with four of five winners were worth $301.20. The Player’s Pick 5,
which has a California
low takeout rate of 14%, is offered daily on the first five races.
Racing
resumes Thursday. Post time is 1 p.m.
Beginning
Monday, the Hollywood Park Casino will be open –admission is free - for dark
day simulcasting Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the Spring/Summer
meet, which concludes July 17. The only Monday exceptions are when there is
live racing (May 30 and July 4).