HOLLYWOOD PARK : Brought To Mind Speeds to Victory

So much for speed being a minus on the Hollywood Park turf course.

For the first few days of the meeting, closers have dominated on the grass, especially when the auxiliary rails were down.

Approaching the end of the third week in Inglewood, the front-runners now are having their way.

Brought To Mind made it three wire-to-wire winners in the last five route races run on the turf course with a half-length victory over Tasteful T.V. and six others in the $107,600 Senorita Breeders’ Cup Stakes Saturday.

In a field loaded with speed, Alex Solis rode Brought To Mind to fractions of :22 4/5, :45 3/5 and 1:09 2/5 and held Tasteful T.V. safe in 1:34 2/5 for the mile.

Even though she was winless in four starts at Santa Anita, the 3-year-old Ruthie’s Native filly has been consistent. She’s been off the board only once in nine lifetime starts and she was unlucky when beaten by Nijinsky’s Lover, the 3-1 Senorita favorite, in a March 29 allowance race.

Eduardo Inda, Ron McAnally’s assistant, credited some extra schooling for Brought To Mind’s $12 upset.

“We schooled her in the paddock a few times after her last race because she got real hot the last couple of times she ran at Santa Anita,” he said. “This time, when she got to the track, she was perfect.

“I told Alex there was going to be some speed and to just ride his race. She likes the grass. She’s been running well and everything was just perfect today.”

With sprinters Dominant Dancer and For My Mom in the race, Solis, like many others, didn’t think Brought To Mind would be in front early. However, her quick start dictated a change in strategy.

“I thought I might be second, third or fourth, but she broke so fast and was really on the muscle, so I just let her go as easy as I could,” he said. “She relaxed real well on the lead and she ran very hard. But, you have to keep working on her because she tends to get a little lazy.”

Tasteful T.V., also a 5-1 shot, was a half-length better than longshot She’s A V.P. Dominant Dancer, who was closest to Brought To Mind most of the way, was fourth ahead of Nijinsky’s Lover, For My Mom, Bimbo and Nasers Pride.

Hollywood Park, which has never hidden its desire to have night racing, has launched a campaign to have four Friday evening programs during the current meeting.

In an advertisement published in the track’s official program Saturday and Sunday’s Daily Racing Form and addressed to members of the California Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Assn., Hollywood Park guaranteed a minimum $500,000 increase in overnight purses if its night racing plan becomes reality.

With the approval of the CHBPA, ballots were sent out to members requesting their support for the series of Friday evening programs, beginning June 22 and continuing June 29, July 6 and July 13.

Along with the purse increase, Hollywood Park also said, regardless of results, no other night of the week will be sought for at least five years.

“We’ve offered to negotiate in good faith with the horsemen in regards to any concerns they have about any details,” said Don Robbins, Hollywood Park’s general manager. “We’ve also agreed to reimburse them for any increases in cost associated with running in the evening.

“We sent our proposal to all registered owners and trainers with a ballot and a return envelope. Basically, we’ve put our money in what we believe in, and we’re confident we’re not wrong.”

The track has had two Friday evening programs the past two summers. In 1988, night racing was held to commemorate Hollywood Park’s 50th anniversary and last year to honor Bill Shoemaker. Last July 21, on-track attendance was 42,612 and the handle was nearly $7.8 million.

“We realize those were special events, and we don’t expect that kind of turnout, but we don’t think it’s unrealistic that we could come close to doubling our attendance and handle from what we would do on a Friday afternoon,” Robbins said. “We think the proposal is totally reasonable and rational. Some trainers are concerned about the extended day, but if we are correct, arrangements can be made to solve everybody’s problems.

“People in Los Angeles are looking for something to do on a Friday night, and we think we’re a viable entertainment alternative during the spring-summer meeting. We want to try and tap into the L.A. entertainment market and bring our sport into the 21st century.”

Citing an extended work day and personal displeasure with Marje Everett, Hollywood Park’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer, a majority of trainers sampled are opposed to the idea.

Dave Hofmans suggested an earlier post time a better alternative. “By early, I don’t mean 1 o’clock,” he said. “I mean 11 a.m. People could get here and be home in time for dinner. They’d miss some of the traffic getting here, and they wouldn’t be in such horrible traffic going home.” Hofmans also wouldn’t mind intertrack wagering at Santa Anita for Hollywood Park and vice versa. “During Del Mar, this place and Santa Anita did wonderfully,” he said.

Vladimir Cerin is one trainer who’s in favor of night racing. “I see lots of gray hair in the grandstand,” he said. “If it would help bring new people into the business, I’m willing to try.”

Horse Racing Notes

Bayakoa, preparing for a possible start in the Hawthorne Handicap Saturday, worked seven furlongs in 1:24 4/5 Saturday morning. The Eclipse Award-winning mare was second behind Gorgeous in Oaklawn Park’s Apple Blossom in her most recent outing. “She went super,” Eduardo Inda said. “If the weights (for the Hawthorne) are right, she’ll go.” . . . Pat Valenzuela won four times Saturday. Alex Solis and Laffit Pincay each had two wins.