Weekend Racing at Hollywood Park : Milady ‘Cap to Showcase Top Fillies

Judging by the field each has drawn, it is difficult to tell which of this weekend’s feature races at Hollywood Park has the greater appeal.

Both are Grade I races, both have attracted a field of seven and both promise to be hard to predict.

Today’s $150,000 Milady Handicap has the advantage of showcasing some of the top fillies in the country, including Tiffany Lass, Hidden Light and Seldom Seen Sue.

Sunday’s $300,000 Hollywood Invitational Handicap has the advantage of giving those who believe in Charlie Whittingham a decided edge. Three of the seven starters will be saddled by the veteran trainer.

First, the fillies.

The Milady, to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, seems likely to be another duel between Tiffany Lass, top-weighted at 120 pounds, and Seldom Seen Sue.

The pair has split the last two meetings, with Tiffany Lass taking the Silver Spoon Handicap on April 29 under Gary Stevens for her eighth victory in as many starts, and Seldom Seen Sue winning the Hawthorne Handicap on May 9 under Chris McCarron.

The latter victory has prompted the addition of three pounds to Seldom Seen Sue, who is trained by Gary Jones, and the dropping of three pounds by the Laz Barrera-trained Tiffany Lass, the champion 3-year-old filly of 1986.

Also in the hunt today are Hidden Light, who should return to form after three consecutive disappointing finishes for trainer Charlie Whittingham, and Le L’argent, winner of four of her last five starts, including the A Gleam Handicap May 30.

The Milady field in post position order, including jockey and weight:

Hidden Light, Bill Shoemaker, 119 pounds; Seldom Seen Sue, Chris McCarron, 117; Fairly Old, Alan Patterson, 110; Tiffany Lass, Gary Stevens, 120; Le L’argent, Darrel McHargue, 118; Frau Altiva, Ray Sibille, 114, and Clabber Girl, Laffit Pincay, 114.

If all seven go to the post, the race will be worth $162,500, with the winner collecting $95,800.

Sunday’s Invitational, a 1 1/2 mile test on the turf, is, on paper at least, a Whittingham race all the way. Whittingham has trained six winners of the race, most recently Erins Isle in 1983.

This time around, he sends the top three weights to the post, Louis Le Grand, the high weight at 120 pounds, Rosedale at 118 and Rivlia at 117. Aboard will be, respectively, Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay and Chris McCarron.

That triple threat would be enough to scare away many trainers, but four have not been deterred. Challenging Whittingham’s trio will be John Gosden’s Ivor’s Image, the only filly in the race, as well as Great Communicator, Schiller and Noble Fighter.

The Invitational field:

Ivor’s Image, Fernando Toro, 114; Louis Le Grand, Bill Shoemaker, 120; Rosedale, Laffit Pincay, 118; Great Communicator, Scott Stevens, 111; Schiller, Eddie Delahoussaye, 115; Rivlia, Chris McCarron, 117, and Noble Fighter, Gary Stevens, 114.