HOLLYWOOD PARK : $100,000-Added Race, Turkey Dinner on Card

A field of 12 California-foaled horses will race a mile out of the chute over Hollywood Park’s main track in the $100,000-added On Trust Handicap on Thanksgiving Day.

First post for the special holiday card will be 11 a.m., and a traditional turkey dinner will be offered free to everyone in attendance.

The sixth running of the On Trust will match 3-year-old rivals Bruho and Mr. Bolg. Mr. Bolg won their first encounter when he defeated Bruho by a head in the seven-furlong Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 11.

Bruho avenged that defeat with a near-record performance in the El Cajon Stakes on Sept. 6. In that race Mr. Bolg set the pace but couldn’t hold off the bay gelding by Naevus, finishing a half length behind Bruho in 1:40.1, only one-fifth off the track record for 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar.

Since the El Cajon, J. M. Scardino’s Bruho has finished sixth in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs behind Sunday Silence and second to Seven Rivers in the Volante Handicap over the turf at Santa Anita.

Trainer Julio Canani named jockey Laffit Pincay, who has two wins and one third with Bruho this year, to ride in the On Trust. Bruho has banked $138,225 from four wins, one second and one third in eight starts this year.

Trainer Yves Seguin gave Mr. Bolg two months off after the El Cajon Stakes because of a minor foot injury suffered early in the race. The bay colt by Bolger made a triumphant return in an overnight stakes at Santa Anita on Nov. 9. Mr. Bolg won the seven-furlong Messenger of Song Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:21.0.

In 10 starts this year, Mr. Bolg has earned slightly less than Bruho, with $132,881 from three wins, two seconds and one third for owners H. and T. G. Rael Jr. Eddie Delahoussaye, who guided him to victories in the Real Good Deal and the Messenger of Song, retains the mount.

High weight in the field is Ken Qvale’s Variety Road at 120 pounds. The 6-year-old horse by Kennedy Road will be looking for his 12th career win in 36 starts. Variety Road enters the race off a second place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Tanforan Handicap on the turf at Bay Meadows Oct. 21.

Variety Road has been lightly raced in 1989. The On Trust will be only his sixth start of the year. Ron Hansen will ride the veteran, who has two wins and two seconds from five trips to post this year for earnings of $75,040.

Other notable horses in the race are He’s A Saros, top money-earner in the field this year with $160,375, and Courageous Pirate, the former claimer who has six wins in 11 starts, including the San Joaquin Invitation Handicap at Bay Meadows on Oct. 22.

The field in post position order follows: He’s A Saros, 118, Gary Stevens; Variety Road, 120, Ron Hansen; Mr. Bolg, 117, Delahoussaye; No Commitment, 113, Alex Solis; Reconnoitering, 116, Jesus Castanon; Stylish Winner, 116, Robbie Davis; Bruho, 117, Pincay; Gum, 112, Corey Black; Just As Lucky, 116, Ron Warren; On The Menu, 110, Chris Davenport, and Courageous Pirate, 112, Gary Boulanger. Stylish Winner and Just As Lucky will race as an entry.