RACING : Unbridled Wins Over One Skeptic

There were a handful of horses that this reporter thought would be contenders in the Kentucky Derby two Saturdays ago.

Besides the obvious pair--Mister Frisky and Summer Squall--it appeared that Silver Ending, Land Rush and Pleasant Tap also were legitimate threats.

Unbridled was never given any consideration. The son of Fappiano seemed overrated, and the Florida Derby he won wasn’t much of a race.

Before the field straightened away into the long Churchill Downs stretch, it was apparent that this evaluation was going to be dead wrong. With a quarter of a mile to run, Unbridled had made it clear he was going to win the Derby. The only question was by how many lengths.

At the end, Unbridled had opened up 3 1/2 lengths on Summer Squall and had won over at least one skeptic.

Since he routed Summer Squall, Mister Frisky and Land Rush, and because none of the new horses are very talented, Unbridled is the Preakness choice.

Granted, he got a perfect trip in Kentucky, but in a relatively small field of nine entrants, he should have clear sailing today. Unbridled’s 1:00 2/5 workout at Churchill Downs four days ago suggests that he is still sharp.

A loser for the first time in 17 outings in the Derby, Mister Frisky seems likely to do better on a fast track and with what should be a slower pace.

More than one observer likened Mister Frisky’s race in Louisville to Snow Chief’s performance there in 1986. Snow Chief came back and won the Preakness.

A superior performer in mud and well clear of third-place finisher Pleasant Tap two weeks ago, Summer Squall might not be quite as effective on a dry track. What’s more, the son of Storm Bird might start to feel the effects of a campaign that has seen him race five times at five tracks since March 17.

Land Rush has promised much more than he has delivered so far, and it’s hard to imagine him turning things around dramatically. Kentucky Jazz won the first race on Derby Day by 11 lengths, but it is unlikely he can move up enough to win this race.

Music Prospector chased Stalwart Charger in the California Derby and is a better horse than he is given credit for being. The others--Baron de Vaux, Fighting Notion and J.R.’s Horizon--have no chance.

Bill Shoemaker wasn’t disheartened Friday. After all, he didn’t win with the first horse he rode, either.

Star Child, Shoemaker’s first starter as a trainer, finished sixth, beaten by more than five lengths in the fifth race at Hollywood Park.

A winner of one of five races in England, where she was trained by John Gosden, Star Child broke a step slowly, raced in some traffic, made a mild bid around the turn, then came up empty late in her first race since Sept. 23.

“She ran a good race,” Shoemaker said. “I’m really glad she ran well. It makes me feel good. She probably needed a race. I hope that’s the case, anyway. She’s going to be OK.”

The world’s winningest rider said it was a lot different watching from the stands.

“I might have looked cool, but I was jumping up and down inside,” Shoemaker said. “It’s a little different than being on top of them. Like I said, I’m very happy with the way she ran.”

Eddie Delahoussaye, a longtime friend of Shoemaker’s who had worked the filly, also thinks Star Child will improve.

“She ran well,” he said. “She just got a little tired. She made a move like she might be tough, but the last eighth of a mile she just went kind of even. She hadn’t been out in a long time. She’ll win some races.”

Bayakoa will be favored to end her two-race losing streak against five rivals in the $107,400 Hawthorne Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

Carrying 125 pounds, one less than when she was beaten by Gorgeous in Oaklawn Park’s Apple Blossom Handicap last month, Bayakoa drew post position No. 5, which is ideal when going a flat mile at Hollywood Park.

The 6-year-old Consultant’s Bid mare, who won this race a year ago, worked seven furlongs in 1:24 4/5 a week ago and doesn’t figure to have much trouble.

“She’s been progressing right along,” trainer Ron McAnally said. “We’re following the same schedule as last year--the Hawthorne, Milady (June 16) and Vanity (July 15).”

The rest of the field includes Stormy But Valid, who has won eight of her 18 starts for Brian Mayberry; Hot Novel; Fantastic Look; Dearly Loved, who disappointed when favored in the Santa Lucia at Santa Anita; and T.V. Of Crystal, who will be making her first appearance since last June.

Lively One is the 122-pound high weight for Sunday’s $200,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap, the prelude to the Californian and the Hollywood Gold Cup.

A prohibitive favorite (1-2) against four opponents in the Kensington Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on May 6, Lively One won easily and has shown a fondness for Hollywood Park. He lost by a neck to stablemate Ruhlmann in the Native Diver Handicap Dec. 23 and took the Swaps Stakes as a 3-year-old. Alex Solis will again ride him.

French Stress, a well-regarded import trained by Neil Drysdale, will make his first start on dirt in the 1 1/16-mile Grade I stake. In his first U.S. race, the even-money 5-year-old Sham horse was beaten by a half-length by Pay the Butler.

The others entered Friday morning are Swing Shift, Stylish Winner, No Marker, Santangelo, Bruho, Charlatan III, Super May, Payant, Silent Prince II and Hollywood Reporter.

Horse Racing Notes

Despite a rash of longshots, there was one perfect ticket in the Pick Six, and it was worth $202,661.40. The winning ticket, for which the bettor paid $48, was purchased at Del Mar. . . . Pat Valenzuela won three times Friday. He took the third race on 8-1 shot Felidia, who seems to have found a home on dirt; the fourth on 2-year-old Best Pal, a son of Habitony, and the fifth on 12-1 shot Dead Heat.

Fernando Alvarez Jr., the son of the former rider, won his first race as a trainer when Emigrant Gap took the opener. The elder Alvarez’s biggest victories as a rider came aboard Quicken Tree, in the Santa Anita Handicap and the San Juan Capistrano Handicap; Ruken, in the Santa Anita Derby, and Dignitas, in the Charles H. Strub Stakes.

Trainer John Russell, who will turn 54 today, won the sixth race Friday with Fancy Boots. . . . Today is also the 26th anniversary of jockey Laffit Pincay’s first victory.