Weekend Racing at Hollywood Park : Railbird, Premiere Sweep Is Unlikely

Predictions are always a gamble, but there appears to be one almost-sure bet at Hollywood Park this weekend, the first weekend of the Inglewood track’s 50th anniversary season.

Chances are that one jockey will not sweep the weekend’s two stakes races, the $75,000 Railbird Stakes this afternoon and the $100,000 Premiere Handicap on Sunday.

Chris McCarron will be hard-pressed to lose today’s 26th running of the Railbird, a Grade II event for 3-year-old fillies on the main track. McCarron has the ride on Eugene Klein’s Blue Jean Baby, a convincing winner in her last start when she won the Crowning Glory Stakes by 1-lengths at Santa Anita April 9.

Blue Jean Baby shares top weight of 122 pounds with Sheesham, trained by Henry Moreno and ridden by Laffit Pincay, in the 7-furlong race. Three others who might threaten are Super Avie, who carries an 8-pound weight advantage, Affordable Price, who has the same weight break and who has finished in the money in each of her eight races, and A Wild Past, winner of five of her last six. None of the trio appears to have the class of Blue Jean Baby, however.

The complete Railbird field in post-position order and including jockey and weight:

Tomorrow’s Child, Bill Shoemaker, 120; Bolchina, Martin Pedroza, 120; Super Avie, Eddie Delahoussaye, 114; Blue Jean Baby, Chris McCarron, 122; Gold Seal, Gary Stevens, 114; Sheesham, Laffit Pincay, 122; A Wild Past, Pat Steinberg, 119; Cushion Cut, Frank Olivares, 114; Affordable Price, Alex Solis, 114, and Kryos, Aaron Gryder, 114.

Sunday’s Premiere Handicap is the first stake of the meeting to be run on the renovated turf course. A field of 10 has been attracted for the 46th running of the 1-mile, Grade III event for 3-year-olds and up.

Bill Shoemaker will be trying to bring Forlitano back from an uninspired effort in his last start, the San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita Feb. 15. Then, the Charlie Whittingham-trained Forlitano broke poorly and finished fourth.

Shoemaker will be seeking his sixth victory in the stake he first won in 1951 aboard Special Touch. Forlitano has earnings of more than $800,000.

Shoemaker’s main challenge Sunday is likely to come from Gary Stevens aboard Steinlen, winner of both of his last starts, including the El Rincon Handicap at Santa Anita on April 10.

For once, Fernando Toro will not be favored in the race, despite his traditional success on the turf. He will, however, be seeking his third straight Premiere victory and his fourth overall, having won aboard Clever Song in 1986 and 1987 and on Sporting Goods in 1976.

The complete Premiere field from the rail out: Sperry, Solis, 112; Forlitano, Shoemaker, 121; Stop the Fighting, Toro, 115; Deputy Governor, Delahoussaye, 119; Sabona, Pincay, 115; Prince Bobby B., Olivares, 117; Five Daddy Five, Pedroza, 114; Steinlen, Stevens, 119; Neshad, Gryder, 115, and Siyah Kalem, McCarron, 113.