HOLLYWOOD PARK : Warcraft, 10 Others Vie in Will Rogers

Charlie Whittingham’s Warcraft, upset by a nose by Itsallgreektome in the recent Spotlight Breeders’ Cup Handicap, seeks revenge when 11 3-year-olds clash in Saturday’s $100,000 Will Rogers Handicap at 1 1/16th miles on Hollywood Park’s turf course.

Warcraft, which finished third in the Santa Anita Derby, ran on grass for the first time in the Spotlight, and the son of Ack Ack just missed as the 8-5 favorite. He will carry co-high weight of 120 pounds and jockey Robbie Davis in the Will Rogers.

Itsallgreektome, trained by Wallace Dollase, also was starting on grass for the first time and closed strongly for the upset at 32-1 in the Spotlight. Corey Nakatani again will ride. The weight is 114 pounds.

Somethingdifferent, a five-time winner on grass, is co-high weight with Warcraft at 120 pounds. Chris McCarron will ride the Richard Mandella trainee.

Tsu’s Dawning, following a third-place effort in the California Derby, will make his first appearance on turf for trainer Edwin Gregson. Gary Stevens is set to ride the son of Tsunami Slew, who will carry 118 pounds.

Single Dawn, who captured the Hoist The Flag Stakes at Hollywood Park in November in his only appearance on grass, figures as another contender under Alex Solis and 119 pounds.

The complete field, in post position order:

Mehmetori (Corey Black), 110; Itsallgreektome (Corey Nakatani), 114; Sengalaise (Laffit Pincay Jr.), 114; Tsu’s Dawning (Gary Stevens), 118; Somethingdifferent (Chris McCarron), 120; Robyn Dancer (Frank Olivares), 115; Forty Niner Days (Julio Garcia), 115; Green’s Leader (Davis Flores), 113; Warcraft (Robbie Davis), 120; Balla Cove (Kent Desormeaux), 116, and Single Dawn (Alex Solis), 119.

If all 11 entries go to the post, the total purse will be $113,500 and the winner will earn $68,500.

The horse of the year in 1989, Sunday Silence, heads an imposing list of 22 nominations to the $300,000-added, Grade I Californian for 3-year-olds and up to be run on June 3.

The 4-year-old son of Halo, who won last year’s Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic en route to his championship honors, is one of six nominated by Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham. Whittingham, who saw Sunday Silence drill a mile in 1:35 3/5 on Monday, also has the strong newcomer Golden Pheasant, Lively One, Payant, River Master and Ruhlmann on his nominated list.

Criminal Type, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and fresh off his Pimlico Special triumph, and Prized, training well for his return to action, are others nominated to the Californian, to be run at 1 1/8 miles.

Neil Drysdale, who trains Prized, has also nominated French Stress and Two Timing. Last year, Drysdale saddled Sabona to upset Blushing John and Lively One in track-record time of 1:46 4/5 in the Californian.