Pau Gasol to watch horse’s first start

Nearly a month has passed since Pau Gasol became a horse owner, and Saturday will mark the first time the Lakers’ forward will see him race.

Gasol confirmed in an email to The Times that he will watch Siempre Mio make his first start at Betfair Hollywood Park since he and teammate Kobe Bryant partnered in owning the horse.

“I am looking forward to a nice event,” Gasol said. “I am not used to that but it’s going to be exciting and a good horse race.”

Gasol and Bryant each bid $8,000 on April 25 at an auction benefiting the Lakers’ Youth Foundation to share the owning rights after L.A. Car Guy President Mike Sullivan also chipped in with an $8,000 donation. Santa Anita chief executive Mark Verge and Chris Quinn, also an executive at Santa Anita, also own the horse.

Neither Bryant nor Gasol pay any expenses in the horse’s care. Siempre Mio receives training from Doug O’Neill, whose colt I’ll Have Another won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

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