HOLLYWOOD PARK : Prized Might Try Californian Next

There is a good chance that Prized, who was third in Monday’s Hollywood Turf Handicap, will run in the Californian June 9 before taking on Farma Way, Summer Squall and others in the $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup.

“He came out of the race very well,” said Jeff Siegel, racing manager for Clover Racing Stable, which owns Prized in partnership with Meadowbrook Farm. “If we want him to be at his very best for the Gold Cup (June 29), (trainer) Neil (Drysdale) is considering running him in the Californian.

“If he comes up to the race well, we’ll run. But, a decision won’t be made for at least another two days.”

A 5-year-old son of Kris S., Prized has already demonstrated his fondness for Hollywood Park’s main track. He upset Sunday Silence in the 1989 Swaps, and the 1 1/8-mile Californian figures to come up weak in terms of competition.

In his second start of 1991, Prized lost by a bit more than a length to Exbourne on Monday, an effort that didn’t discourage anybody associated with the horse.

“It wasn’t his kind of race,” Drysdale said. “He’s not a sprinter, he’s a mile-and-a-half horse.”

Although the Californian isn’t being considered, Itsallgreektome, who was second in the Turf Handicap, might try the Gold Cup.

The 4-year-old gelding, last year’s Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top male grass performer, has only one victory on dirt, that in the his first race. He beat maidens at Del Mar in August, 1989.

“It’ll either be the Golden Gate Handicap (June 15 at 1 3/8 miles on turf) or the Gold Cup,” trainer Wallace Dollase said. “It depends on the weight. We’re going to have Farma Way here, we’re going to have Summer Squall and that kind of horse in there. I don’t even know if (Itsallgreektome) is capable of coming within five lengths of them, but if he got a real break in the weights, because obviously he has no form on dirt, then I might take a shot.

“I’ve been doing this all along with this horse and he amazes me. I did it all last year. Every time I’d step him up another notch, I’d be thinking, ‘Oh, no, he can’t continue to do this,’ but he did.”

Dollase said Itsallgreektome has trained well on dirt, but he hasn’t raced on the surface since early last year.

“He’ll work well, but you have to put a horse in front of him,” he said. “One time, he worked in 58 and change. That’s as fast as horses work and I had a horse in front of him. He runs at the horse and he puts out. He won’t put out by himself. He’s too smart to do that.”

Suddenly, the rail on Hollywood Park’s main track is no longer a death sentence.

In the last two racing days, three horses have won from the inside in one-turn races, equaling the total of the first 25 days of the meeting.

First-time starter Inner Peace started the reversal with a $71.80-victory in Monday’s second race, then longshots Fahdi Bay and J.L.’s Tribute won wire to wire in Wednesday’s third and fifth, respectively. Chris McCarron, who rode J.L.’s Tribute, did keep his mount well off the rail, however.

Wednesday was also a banner day for those who like to bet on Turf Paradise imports.

Trained by Richard Lockwood, Fahdi Bay arrived at Hollywood Park after consecutive victories in Arizona and was able to score again at $22 under apprentice Hector Torres.

A race later, Lord Gusto rallied from well off the pace and won for the fourth time in 10 starts. The $20,000 3-year-old colt is trained by Bart Hone and was ridden by Gary Stevens.

Forest Glow won his third in a row after opening 1991 with a defeat, holding off Laxey Bay in the $61,400 Spence Bay Wednesday.

A 4-year-old son of Green Forest, Forest Glow had two easy victories down the Santa Anita hillside course and Wednesday stretched his speed over 1 1/16 miles.

Able to get away with an extremely slow opening quarter--24 2/5--under Chris McCarron, the 9-5 favorite was able to out-finish Laxey Bay, the 5-2 second choice, by a head in 1:39 3/5. Trained by Brad MacDonald for owner John A. Bell III, Forest Glow has now won six of 12 starts.

Soft Machine, the longest shot in the field at 34-1, was third, four lengths behind Laxey Bay. Then came Balla Cove, Royal Reach and Mister Riv. Notorious Pleasure, who had been scheduled to race for the first time since winning the Col. F.W. Koester Handicap last Oct. 7, was scratched.

Little Brianne, who defeated Bayakoa in Santa Anita’s Santa Maria and Santa Margarita Handicaps, is the 121-pound top weight for Sunday’s $100,000 Gamely Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Fourth as the heavy favorite in last month’s Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Oaklawn Park, Little Brianne is expected to start in the Gamely. She won a division of the Dahlia Handicap over the course last winter.

Fire The Groom, who has won five in a row, is next on the list at 120 pounds. Owned by Hollywood Park President and Chief Executive Officer R. D. Hubbard, Fire The Groom won the Wilshire Handicap in her first local appearance.

Horse Racing Notes

Chris McCarron and Gary Stevens both won twice Wednesday. . . . Nobody was able to select six or even five winners in the Pick Six, so there is a carry-over of more than $61,000 for today. . . . Beginning Saturday, the Pick Six races will be Nos. 4-9 rather than 2-7. This will be the third time the Pick Six has been switched. When the meeting started, it covered races 3-8.