HOLLYWOOD PARK : Oraibi Takes On Ofanto in Turf Express Sprint

Oraibi, winner of the Malibu Stakes and Sierra Madre Handicap at Santa Anita last winter, heads a field of 10 sprinters entered in Saturday’s $75,000-added Hollywood Turf Express at Hollywood Park.

Oraibi, who carries high weight of 120 pounds and is to be ridden by Laffit Pincay, has finished first and second in his two previous sprint tries on grass. The 4-year-old colt, trained by Richard Mandella, was a fast-closing second to Cricket Ball in the Laurel Dash at Laurel Race Course (Md.) last month after a 2 1/2-month layoff.

Oraibi’s main competition is expected to come from Ofanto, winner of two successive turf sprints at Oak Tree, and Sunny Blossom, runner-up to Sam Who in the Ancient Title Handicap at Oak Tree.

The complete field, in post position order: Sunny Blossom, 115, Robbie Davis; California Jade, 115, Ray Sibille; Summer Sale, 111, Brenna Hernandez; Oraibi, 120, Laffit Pincay; You’re No Bargain, 115, Chris McCarron; Undercut, 115, Corey Black; Star Cutter, 115, Eddie Delahoussaye; Cutter Sam, 113, Martin Pedroza; Bit of a Lark, 109, Rafael Meza, Ofanto, 117, Gary Stevens.

Trainer Ron McAnally, who has nominated Bella Cove, Hero Worker, Silver Ending and Single Dawn to the Grade II Hoist the Flag Stakes on Nov. 25, said Single Dawn would be the most likely starter to the one-mile turf event. Single Dawn recently finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Gulfstream Park.

Silver Ending was an impressive winner in Wednesday’s final at Hollywood Park. In the one-mile allowance race on turf, the son of Silver Hawk defeated his stablemate, Hero Worker, who finished third.

McAnally believes that the Hoist the Flag may be coming up a little too soon to run either Silver Ending or Hero Worker. He considers all four horses to be contenders for the $1 million Hollywood Futurity.

The more well-known son of Silver Hawk, Hawkster, left for Japan on Monday. The speedy three-year-old will be contesting the Japan Cup on Nov. 26. McAnally will be joining Hawkster on Saturday.

Barbara Seguin, wife and assistant trainer to Yves Seguin, said that Mr. Bolg probably will be nominated to the Affirmed Handicap but is more likely to run in the On Trust Handicap next Thursday. Although both races are at one mile, the On Trust is for 3-year-olds and older foaled in California. The Affirmed is an open race for 3-year-olds.

“He had two months off before his last race at Oak Tree,” Seguin said of Mr. Bolg. “He needed that race to get ready for the On Trust. Yves has been teaching him to lay off the pace instead of being on the lead as he has been.”

Mr. Bolg was an easy winner of the Messenger of Song Stakes last week. Seguin said that the son of Bolger came out of the race “real strong” and that he will work on Saturday in preparation for the On Trust.

Assistant trainer Jeff Lukas said Go Milord is the horse the Lukas stable intends to enter in Sunday’s Hollywood Derby. Lukas said that the horse has a nice record in Europe and that the Derby fits well for him. He is not sure what to expect from the French-bred colt, but he believes that the Derby will allow a good evaluation of his form.