HOLLYWOOD PARK : Tropical Stephanie Ends Losing Streak in Valkyr Handicap

Trainer Ron Ellis picked the right time to run Tropical Stephanie in her first race on the Hollywood Park turf course.

Second four times and third once in seven tries, the 6-year-old Bold Tropic mare overpowered favored Agirlfromars in the final furlong to win the $106,200 Valkyr Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park by two lengths.

Ellis was going to start her in the day’s ninth race--a $100,000 claimer--but decided to go in the Valkyr when the field came up short. Seven California-bred fillies and mares were entered, but only five wound up running.

A 7-1 shot who hadn’t won in 18 months, Tropical Stephanie completed the mile on turf in 1:33 4/5. In increasing her career earnings to $318,325, she also provided jockey Kent Desormeaux with his first stakes victory of the meeting.

“I had been pointing for this race, but I was real disappointed with her last race (eighth in the Chapel Of Dreams at Golden Gate Fields),” Ellis said. “I decided to switch and run in here because of the short field. I got lucky and made the right decision.

“To tell you the truth, I would have been happy with second or third today. I thought Agirlfromars would get out on an easy lead and be awfully tough to catch. But, if we got second or third, that would have been like winning the ninth race (in money).”

Claimed by Ellis from Charlie Whittingham in 1988 for $32,000, Tropical Stephanie has four victories from 17 starts on turf and has been on the board 12 times.

“She looked like she was worth the money at the time,” Ellis said. “It wasn’t anything special, but she has improved a lot on the grass. That’s something you can’t anticipate. It was just a lucky deal.”

Agirlfromars, who didn’t break alertly, was second by a head over 9-5 second choice Somethingmerry. Paper Princess was another head back in fourth and Venturilla, who led early, finished last. Linda Card and Hit A Homer Honey were scratched.

Farma Way, the probable favorite for Saturday’s $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup, worked six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 Saturday morning for trainer Wayne Lukas. In the saddle was Chris McCarron, who inherited the mount a week ago when Lukas dismissed Gary Stevens.

“He went nice and evenly,” said Lukas, whose 4-year-old Marfa colt was third in the Nassau County Handicap in his last start June 8. “He got his last quarter in 23 4/5 and he looked good--as much as I could tell in that slow a work.

“That’s not much of a work for him, but I didn’t want much, either. I told Chris just to relax him. I know he can run. We’ve already found that out.”

Summer Squall and Itsallgreektome, who will also start in the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup, will have their final workouts for the race Monday. Other probable starters are Anshan, Roanoke, Prized and Western Playboy, who is scheduled to work five furlongs this morning. Marquetry is a possible entrant.

After finishing next-to-last in the Preakness, Whadjathink rebounded with a five-length victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Arlington Classic at Arlington Park.

Ridden by Jorge Velasquez, who has won twice in three tries with the 3-year-old, Whadjathink tracked Metfield for five furlongs, then drew away while competing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49. He paid $9, $5.40 and $4.60.

Freezing Dock, a 63-1 shot, was second, three-quarters of a length in front of Character, the Cinema Handicap winner who was ridden by Gary Stevens.

“It was like taking candy from a baby,” Velasquez said. “He was the best of the bunch by far.

“He broke badly at the Preakness and finished 13 back. But Hansel won by seven, so it wasn’t as bad as everyone said. We thought he could come back and run like this.”

Trained by Mike Whittingham, the Seattle Song colt is owned by Dick Duchossois, Arlington’s Chairman of the Board. Greek Costume, the 8-5 favorite, finished sixth in the field of eight.

Burnished Bronze, a son of Seattle Slew, drew away from Scherando in the final sixteenth to win the $100,000 Ladbroke Futurity at Golden Gate Gields.

Owned by John Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm and trained by David Hofmans, the 2-year-old won by three lengths in 1:02 3/5 for 5 1/2 furlongs. Eddie Delahoussaye was aboard Burnished Bronze, who has won both his starts. He will race next in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship July 22.

Scherando, who had broken his maiden two weeks earlier at Hollywood Park, was six lengths clear of Bigger Issues, the 8-5 second choice.

Horse Racing Notes

Getting ready for the July 4 American Handicap, Tight Spot went an easy six furlongs on turf in 1:15 1/5 Saturday morning. . . . C. Sam Maggio, a 10-1 shot, beat 7-10 favorite Blaze O’Brien by a nose in the $61,700 Khaled Handicap at Hollywood Park. Many observers thought Blaze O’Brien had won the race--track announcer Trevor Denman called the margin a head--but the photo finish camera showed otherwise. This was the first victory around two turns for the 5-year-old Dimaggio gelding, who led all of the way under Corey Nakatani.

Besides the Ladbroke Futurity, Eddie Delahoussaye had another winner at Golden Gate and he is $42,242 short of $100 million in earnings.