HOLLYWOOD PARK : Dahlia Handicap Split to Handle 19 Entries

Nineteen fillies and mares have entered the $75,000-added Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday, making it necessary to split the 1 1/16-mile turf event into two divisions.

The first division will run as the sixth race, with Evergreen Farm’s Baba Cool looking for her second straight stakes win. The second division, the eighth race, will probably see Aaron Jones’ two-time stakes winning Nikishka as the favorite.

The eighth race holds added interest with the presence of Silver Lane, the 4-year-old full sister to local turf star Hawkster. She overcame a rough trip to finish a closing third in her West Coast debut Nov. 24 and is trained by Ron McAnally, who also trains Hawkster.

Jockey Chris McCarron will break Silver Lane from the rail in her third attempt in the United States after spending her first two seasons in France.

Nikishka has won $211,400 with two wins and one second in four starts since the daughter of Nijinsky II was switched to the turf by trainer Joseph Cannon at Del Mar in September. Both of her losses were to Eclipse candidate Brown Bess.

Baba Cool, first or second in seven of 12 starts this year, probably will be the favorite in the first division. Trained by Michael Whittingham, the 4-year-old daughter of Kings Lake won the Louis R. Rowan Handicap at Santa Anita in her most recent start.

Kester and Dresdner’s Townsend Lass will be looking for her fifth straight win and attempting to remain undefeated on the lawn. Townsend Lass won the Cardinal Handicap at Churchill for her first stakes win and third win on the turf. She will be making her first start on the West Coast in the Dahlia Handicap.

Here is the field for the first division of the Dahlia Handicap from the rail out: Golden Eagle Farm’s Young Flyer, 115, Toro; Augusan Stable’s Ariosa, 112, Black; Townsend Lass, 115, Allen; Baba Cool, 118, Pincay; Aaron Jones’ Sugarplum Gal, 112, Stevens; D. Beard’s Affirmed Classic, 115, Castanon; Allred and Hubbard’s Survive, 115, Baze; Mr. and Mrs. Cavanagh’s Stylish Star, 116, McCarron and R. A. Haggerty’s Agirlfromars, 112, Davis.

The second division will line up with M. M. Fustok’s Silver Lane, at 114 pounds with jockey McCarron on the rail. In order then are Golden Eagle Farm’s Excellent Lady, 109, Boulanger; Buckland Farm’s No Review, 117, Meza; Tatt Stables’ Miss Unnameable, 114, Pincay; Green Thumb Farm Stable’s Saros Brig, 114, Stevens; Sheik Maktoum’s Beat, 114, Toro; P. and Andrean Van Doren’s Carita Tostada, 112, Davis; Nikishka, Delahoussaye; R. L. and Sharon Bloomer’s White Mischief II, 115, Ortega and Summa Stable’s Raintree Renegade, 113, Solis.