HOLLYWOOD PARK : Hot Nakatani Is Kentucky Bound

If form prevails, Corey Nakatani’s first visit to Churchill Downs is going to be enjoyable.

After today’s races at Hollywood Park, the 20-year-old jockey will be in Kentucky on Friday to ride Eclipse Award winner Itsallgreektome in the Early Times Classic and Lite Light in the Kentucky Oaks.

Nakatani won’t be coming right home. He will stick around for Saturday’s Derby. Unlike Itsallgreektome and Lite Light, Green Alligator, his initial Kentucky Derby mount, won’t be favored. In fact, a victory by the son of Gate Dancer would be considered a major upset.

The way Nakatani has been going lately, Green Alligator may surprise everybody.

A little more than a year after losing his five-pound apprentice allowance, the Covina-born rider has established himself.

Six days into the Hollywood Park meeting, he leads the standings with nine victories, ranks fifth in the nation in money won, and in a recent two-week period, won stakes aboard Anshan, Jacodra, Pharisien, Green Alligator and Lite Light.

“Things have been going great for us,” Nakatani said. “(Agent) Tony (Matos) has been doing a helluva job. We’ve been doing exceptionally well and, hopefully, we’ll keep it going. I’m going to keep trying and working hard.”

The nation’s top apprentice in 1989 with better than $2.5 million in earnings, Nakatani has developed into a polished rider who has become adept aboard any type of horse.

“I learn every day,” he said. “I position my horses better and I save more for the end. When you first start riding, you don’t think as much about saving your horses. You just go.

“Now, when I have a horse off the pace, I wait longer before I make my move. I have a lot more patience. I’ve learned from the best riding here.”

Married to trainer Wally Dollase’s daughter Michelle, Nakatani has plenty of fans among the horsemen, among them Charlie Whittingham. The first horse Nakatani rode for Whittingham was Anshan in the San Bernardino Handicap March 30 at Santa Anita. The English-bred 4-year-old came through with a nose victory over Louis Cyphre.

“Corey came to work for me when he first got to the track,” trainer Roger Stein said. “I felt so proud when he had the bug but didn’t believe he was going to make it (as a journeyman).

“I can’t believe the improvement he’s made riding against the best riders in the world. He keeps improving and keeps watching. He has such a desire to win and nobody can deny he has the talent. He’s a trainer’s dream. If you mention something to him, he does it. He’s one of my favorites.”

Displaying his customary confidence, Nakatani feels he is going to have a productive couple of days in Kentucky. Itsallgreektome and Lite Light’s credentials speak for themselves, but the jockey also says California Derby winner Green Alligator isn’t hopelessly overmatched in America’s most famous race.

“I think he has a shot,” he said. “I think he’s the only one in the field who can come from behind. The 1 1/4 miles should be perfect. There’s plenty of speed in the race, and speed doesn’t hold very often in the Derby.

“The horse is still a little green, but he’s showed improvement in every one of his races. I liked his race up north and (trainer) Murray (Johnson) told me he’s been working well over that track.

“I’m looking forward to riding in the Derby. I’ve always wanted to do it, but, to be honest, the Breeders’ Cup races are more of a goal to me. I want to win one of those races because the best horses are in those races.”

There won’t be a Valiant Pete-Griswold rematch anytime soon.

Valiant Pete, the upset winner of the first match race in Santa Anita history, was injured and won’t be back until later this year.

After Valiant Pete’s victory April 20, there was discussion about a possible rematch this month at Hollywood Park at 870 yards.

“It’s a slight injury, but we’ll have to give him some time,” trainer John Sadler said, refusing to disclose the exact nature of the injury. “He’ll be back in the summer.”

Horse Racing Notes

Roger Stein, who won Saturday’s All American Handicap at Golden Gate with Forty Niner Days, had two winners Wednesday at Hollywood Park. He won the first race with Complete Accord, and the fifth with Reassured. The latter provided apprentice Tony Lovato with his first victory at Hollypark. . . . Letthebighossroll, who is undefeated in four starts, might make his first start around two turns in the Jersey Derby May 27. Trainer Bob Baffert’s Flying Paster gelding won the Harry Henson Stakes opening day at Hollywood Park. . . . The Kentucky Derby will be run between Hollywood Park’s third and fourth races Saturday. . . . The Hollywood Park replays are being shown nightly at 12:30 a.m. on Prime Ticket. . . . Chris McCarron and Alex Solis both had two winners Wednesday. McCarron won the second with Gemini Jannica and the feature with favored Now Showing and Solis won with Califorian in the seventh and Softshoe Sure Shot in the ninth. . . . The first 2-year-old race of the meeting will be run today. A field of 10 fillies will go 4 1/2 furlongs.