HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP : Farma Way, Summer Squall Co-High Weights

Farma Way and Summer Squall Monday were made co-high weights, at 122 pounds apiece, for Saturday’s $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup.

Trainer Neil Howard, at Hollywood Park to supervise a five-furlong workout by Summer Squall, had not expected to share the high weight with Farma Way.

“We went up two pounds after getting beat by three lengths,” Howard said.

In the Pimlico Special on May 11, the 4-year-old colts ran 1-2, with Farma Way carrying 119 pounds and Summer Squall 120. Since then, Farma Way, the victim of an early speed duel with Jolie’s Halo, finished third in the Nassau County Handicap at Belmont Park while carrying 123 pounds. The same day, Summer Squall toyed with four allowance opponents at Churchill Downs, winning by 7 1/2 lengths.

Howard, whose stable normally competes at Midwestern tracks, was reluctant to criticize the Gold Cup weights, which were assigned by Eual Wyatt, racing secretary at Hollywood Park.

“I don’t want to get into it,” Howard said. “I’m the guest here.”

Asked if the weights puzzled him, Howard said: “Puzzled. Yes, that’s a good word. Yes, I’m puzzled by the weights.”

The last time a high weight in the Gold Cup carried as little as 122 pounds was 1980, when Rich Cream finished fifth. The average for the high weight since then has been 126 pounds. The last time there were co-high weights for the stake was in 1972, when Droll Role ran second and Kennedy Road was 10th, both under 119 pounds.

Since the Gold Cup was first run in 1938, high weights have won 27% of the time, but only one high weight--Ferdinand, with 124 pounds in 1987--has won in the last eight years.

With exercise rider Robert Vickers aboard, Summer Squall went five-eighths of a mile Monday in 59 4/5. Last year’s Preakness winner was timed in 1:12 1/5 for the extra furlong and in 1:25 1/5 for seven-eighths of a mile.

“It was a little fast, but he did it all himself,” Vickers said to Howard.

Howard said he was happy with the workout.

After Farma Way and Summer Squall, Prized was next on Wyatt’s weights at 120 pounds. Of the other horses expected to run, Itsallgreektome received 119 pounds, Anshan, 115; Roanoke, 115; Western Playboy, 113; Marquetry, 110, and Music Prospector, 110.

Wyatt weighted several other horses--Unbridled, for example, got 120 pounds and Festin was rated at 119--but they are not expected to run.

Trainer Ron McAnally was on the phone Monday with a shipper, making arrangements for Festin to be flown to New York. The winner of the Nassau County is expected to run next in either the Suburban Handicap at Belmont on July 4 or in the New England Classic at Rockingham Park on July 20.

Trainer Charlie Whittingham, who has won the Gold Cup eight times, also was surprised by the weights for the 1 1/4-mile race, but for a different reason. Whittingham thought that his hopeful this year, Anshan, would be assigned more weight. Anshan, winner of one of five starts on dirt, was second to Roanoke in the Californian June 8.

“You’ll be all right,” Whittingham said to Howard as Summer Squall’s trainer looked at the list of weights.

“That’s what you say,” Howard said. “Your horse has got a Hall of Fame trainer. My horse has got just another guy putting on the halter.”