Racing at Hollywood Park : Whittingham Alumni Expected to Dominate

There has been no sign of Charlie Whittingham in California for more than seven weeks, and none is expected as long as Sunday Silence, Whittingham’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, remains on the Triple Crown trail.

But Whittingham’s presence will be felt at Hollywood Park this weekend when three of his brightest proteges run their horses in a pair of Grade I features.

In 1981, when the barn included such stars as Providential, Queen to Conquer and Kilijaro, Whittingham’s chief whip was Richard Lundy, the No. 3 man was Rodney Rash and the new talent was Christopher Speckert.

Today, those three will saddle the top contenders in the $109,400 Gamely Handicap.

Lundy, now a private trainer for Allen Paulson’s thoroughbred empire, has brought Ravinella to town. Rash, now Whittingham’s top aide, has entered Claire Marine, Fitzwilliam Place and Raintree Renegade. Speckert, now a public trainer with a major string for Thomas Mellon Evans, will be running No Review.

“It was actually Dick (Lundy) who got me the job with Charlie back then,” Speckert said. “And I certainly hope he regrets it after the race.”

Sunday, Speckert will step aside and let Lundy and Rash go at it in the $320,800 Californian. Lundy will run Pimlico Special winner Blushing John against Ruhlmann, Lively One and Payant from the Whittingham shed row.

“A lot of people are telling me I made this trip in vain,” Lundy said after arriving from his Belmont Park headquarters earlier this week. “They tell me Charlie’s horses are too tough in both races.”

Under any other circumstances, Lundy’s horses would be favored in both the Californian and the Gamely. Instead, Blushing John, who will be ridden by Pat Day, will be second choice to Ruhlmann. And Ravinella, coming off a lackluster defeat in Florida, will be second choice in the Gamely. Because of common ownership, the three Whittingham horses will be linked in the betting.

Both Ravinella and Blushing John are repatriated American-breds who won classic races on the grass last year in France. Ravinella later added an English classic and was purchased by Paulson in December for $2.75 million. Flying the colors of the aerospace executive, the daughter of Mr. Prospector has won one of two starts.

Blushing John was purchased privately by Paulson as a yearling and has won more than $800,000. Most of that came in the $700,000 Pimlico Special, which he won by two lengths. Among the beaten that day were two of his Californian rivals, Lively One and Saratoga Passage.

That was Blushing John’s third victory in four starts on the dirt for Lundy, who never had a doubt that the dark chestnut son of Blushing Groom would be able to convert to American-style main track racing.

“For one thing, the Blushing Grooms have had a lot of success in this country,” Lundy said. “And I think you’ll find that the Europeans who convert to racing on dirt all seem to have some kind of American breeding, which this colt certainly has.

“Anyway, I ought to know when a turf horse can handle the dirt. I worked for the guy who wrote the book on it.”

During Lundy’s tenure with Whittingham, the barn boasted former Europeans Exceller, King Pellinore and Riot in Paris, all of whom won major stakes on the main track in California.

Blushing John must concede two pounds to Ruhlmann, 124 to 122, as well as an impressive race over the track. Already among the fastest horses around, Ruhlmann also can sustain his speed, as he did in winning the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap May 21.

Lundy is impressed but hardly intimidated.

“I think my colt will be able to lay close enough to Ruhlmann without letting him get away, and still have enough left to throw a punch at the end,” the trainer said.

The field for the 1 1/8-mile Californian: Blushing John, Payant, Sabona, Ruhlmann, Lively One and Saratoga Passage.

The Gamely, at the same distance on the grass, has Carita Tostada, Claire Marine, Raintree Renegade, Ravinella, No Review, Carmanetta, Fitzwilliam Place and last year’s winner, Pen Bal Lady.