Hollywood Park Racing : Hard-Charging Manila Wins Cinema Handicap

Vernon Castle, so listless in the Kentucky Derby, was nevertheless the favorite Saturday in the Cinema Handicap at Hollywood Park. His breeding was a factor; his dad is Seattle Slew. And his victory in the California Derby continues to loom large.

And for more than a mile, he remained the favorite as jockey Eddie Delahoussaye led him from the gate all the way down the backstretch. His Kentucky Derby showing, a disappointing 15th-place finish, turned out to be something of a fluke, after all.

But in the final sixteenth of a mile, Manila, in his California debut, came on strong with jockey Fernando Toro. And that was it for Vernon Castle and the rest of the field in the $100,000 race as Manila, in a thrilla, charged home for the victory.

Delahoussaye, though impressed with the way his horse had regained form, was nevertheless even more impressed with Manila. “Vernon Castle might have got a little tired,” he admitted, “although he kicked in when I called on him. But that other horse, he came smoking.”

Toro, who rode three winners Saturday, said everything went to form, although he wasn’t sure what form for Manila would be until just before the race. A Leroy Jolley-trained horse--he nominated three horses for the race but only sent the one--Manila evidently is worth a nice spurt in the last quarter-mile or so, but no more. At least, that was what Toro was told: Hold him on line and don’t ride him too hard too early. “He told me he had one good, short run,” Toro said. “I just hoped he wasn’t lying.”

And who had told him that, as Jolley wasn’t there? “I don’t know, somebody,” he said. “Maybe my grandmother.”

The advice, which actually came from Bobby Wingfield, was good. After running fourth into the backstretch, the horse just swept by the field, finishing the 1 1/8 miles on the turf course in 1:47.

“I think,” Toro said, “this horse has a good future.”

So, apparently does Vernon Castle. “He was a lot more alert than in the Derby,” Delahoussaye said. “He was dead there. Just got knocked out, going back and forth (before the race). Not too many horses as quiet as he was in the Derby.

“I just wish that horse had stayed in New York.”

According to Wingfield, who represented trainer Jolley, the horse might not even return to New York immediately. “Mike (Shannon, owner) will talk to Leroy this evening and decide what they’ll do with the horse. He may stay here for his next race.”

In the other drama of the race, witnessed by a crowd of 30,337, Mazaad once again finished ahead of Sovereign Don, although that was just fourth. Mazaad, which won the other two races for 3-year-olds, had placed first in the recent Will Rogers, but only after apparent winner Sovereign Don was disqualified. If this was any vindication for Mazaad, it didn’t pay so well. Horse Racing Notes Donald Robbins, 38, was named general manager of Hollywood Park Saturday. Robbins, an attorney, has long been associated with the track through his association with Neil Papiano, who has been chief counsel for the company. Robbins joins Larry Marsh and Ken Nungesser on the executive team of the operation. . . . The total mutual pool for the Belmont Stakes wagering at Hollywood Park was $856,073.