On The Acorn seeking turf victory

It’s not often a horse running 1 1/2 miles will be cutting back in distance, but that’s the case for the probable favorite in the $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap, which will be run for the 18th time Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Fresh off a win in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap at about 1 3/4 miles on turf April 22 at Santa Anita, On The Acorn will try for his second consecutive Grade II victory in the 1 1/2 -mile Murray, which honors the Pulitzer Prize-winning sports columnist for The Times who died in 1998.

If On The Acorn is successful, he will become the first horse to win the Capistrano and Murray in the same year.

Claimed for $40,000 by trainer Mike Mitchell last fall for a partnership that includes Jack and Doug Disney, Ross Newhan, the retired Hall of Fame baseball writer for The Times; former major league catcher and manager Bob “Buck” Rodgers, Fred Krueger and Paul Salata, On The Acorn has since won three of five and earned more than $248,000.

Gelded the day after he was claimed, On The Acorn, a 6-year-old English-bred, has obviously responded to the change. He has not, however, had success on grass. The son of Inchinor has not been first or second in five starts on the Hollywood Park turf.

With co-high weights Fourty Niners Son and Obrigado skipping the Murray because trainer Neil Drysdale wasn’t happy with their condition, On The Acorn will have only five opponents – Notable Guest, Runaway Dancer, Prospect Park, Church Service and Fitz Flag.

Trained by Dan Hendricks for RL Stables, Runaway Dancer will be looking to become the first horse to win the Murray twice. The 8-year-old gray won under jockey Garrett Gomez in 2005, the only time the son of Runaway Groom has scored in 10 starts on the turf in Inglewood.

Alex Solis has the mount on Runaway Dancer in the gelding’s first start since he finished fifth in the San Luis Rey Handicap on March 24 at Santa Anita.

The card includes two other graded stakes. Six sprinters will meet in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap at six furlongs and a dozen 3-year-old fillies will get together in the $100,000 Senorita at a mile on turf. Both races are Grade III’s.

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 bob.mieszerski@latimes.com