Argentina’s Forlitano Wins Seabiscuit Stakes

Forlitano, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred, survived a foul claim to win the $100,000 Seabiscuit Stakes Wednesday in the windup to Hollywood Park’s 37-day fall meeting.

Both of Hollywood Park’s meetings were down in business this year, the fall season showing declines of 15.5% in attendance and 14% in handle, with the respective daily averages being 17,858 and $3.8 million. The summer meeting was down 12% in attendance and 8.5% in betting from the previous year.

Forlitano, ridden by Eric Saint-Martin for the jockey’s first win of the meet, finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Schiller, with Skip Out Front running third. Gary Stevens, who finished fifth aboard Over the Ocean, claimed foul against Forlitano and Saint-Martin for interference in the stretch, but it was not allowed by the stewards.

Forlitano, who, along with Schiller, went off at the longest odds on the board, paid $30.80 to win, running the 1 miles on grass in 2:00.

Charlie Whittingham, saddling Forlitano for his 18th win of the meeting, won a Hollywood Park training title for the first time since 1971, finishing two wins ahead of Hector Palma. Stevens won the riding title with a record 64 wins, finishing 14 ahead of Laffit Pincay.