HOLLYWOOD PARK : Robyn Dancer Has Found That Dirt Is Greener

Trainer Darrell Vienna says the reason for Robyn Dancer’s resurgence in 1991 is simple.

After the 4-year-old Crafty Prospector colt finished sixth of seven in the Shoemaker Handicap, Vienna decided to fit him in blinkers.

Three races later, Robyn Dancer has three consecutive victories and the latest was his best yet.

Going off as the 6-5 favorite after Timebank was scratched, the roan won by 8 1/2 lengths in the $107,700 Triple Bend Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Four-wide down the backstretch while part of a logjam on the lead, Robyn Dancer spurted away with three furlongs to run and kept extending his advantage, winning in 1:21.

Besides the blinkers, there might be another reason for Robyn Dancer’s turnaround after a lackluster 1990. All he had to show for 10 starts last year was three third-place finishes.

Dirt might also be a key. Although he has two victories and three thirds in 10 grass starts, the Kentucky-bred is far more effective on the main track. Saturday’s victory was his sixth in 13 starts on the surface.

Despite Robyn Dancer’s dirt streak, Vienna considered skipping the Triple Bend and running instead in Thursday’s American Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Purchased for a reported $600,000 before the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Turf after losing by a nose to 1990 Belmont winner Go And Go in the Laurel Futurity, Robyn Dancer is starting to make the buy look a little better.

“I thought that was a sensational race (the Laurel Futurity),” Vienna said. “(The way he ran in 1990) I thought it was a big mistake. Now, he’s pointing in the right direction, but he still has to do more.”

Pincay, who has ridden the horse in all four of his starts this year, was confident going into the Grade III race.

“I really thought he was the best horse today,” he said. “I liked this horse last time when he ran 1 1/16 miles. He was on the lead and he was so relaxed, I kept chirping and chirping and tapping him with the stick most of the way, and still, the last part of the race, he just kept waiting for the other horses.

“That’s why his last race didn’t look that impressive. Today, his mind was on business. He didn’t even switch leads, but I didn’t bother with it, I just kept going with him.”

Bruho, last with a furlong to run, was second by two lengths over Black Jack Road, then came Blue Eyed Danny, Tanker Port and Sam Who.

Timebank, the 9-5 morning line favorite, was scratched to run in the Bel Air Handicap at 1 1/16 miles July 13.

In the race before the Triple Bend, Sahib’s Light rallied to win the $85,900 Jim Murray Handicap.

Third after a half-mile, the 5-year-old Seattle Song horse was shuffled back to 11th after 1 1/4 miles, swung widest of all into the stretch and beat 34-1 shot Black Monday by a half-length.

Third at Golden Gate in his only other start this year, Sahib’s Light paid $12.60 as the 5-1 fourth choice and completed the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:25 4/5.

This was the second victory in three starts on the Hollywood Park grass for Sahib’s Light, who upset Crimson Slew and Despatch at 14-1 Nov. 30.

“(Trainer) Richard (Cross) told me that he’d be up into the bridle and then he’d try and drop back going into the final turn,” said his rider, Gary Stevens. “That’s exactly what he did. He told me to make a run on the outside.

“So I just let the other horses clear, dropped back to last, chirped to him and he came flying down the lane. When I went outside, I felt like he was a winner. He really kicked it in.”

After showing little in his first two American starts, Black Monday had a clear lead with less than a furlong to run, but couldn’t quite hold on. He finished a half-length ahead of Razeen, the 5-2 favorite. Berillon was fourth, then came Ornery Guest, Somethingdifferent, Louve Bleue, Soft Machine, Blue Stag, Capel Meister, Ozal and Observation Post.

Although it didn’t make up for the Gold Cup, Wayne Lukas received a consolation prize when Twilight Agenda led all of the way in the $60,000 Super Diamond Handicap.

Making his second start on the dirt, the 5-year-old Devil’s Bag horse beat favored Flying Continental by two lengths in 1:40 2/5 over a track that has been extremely kind to front-runners. Three of the main track winners led all of the way and six were in front with three furlongs to run.

Horse Racing Notes

Fire The Groom, whose five-race winning streak ended in the Gamely Handicap, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for today’s $220,200 Beverly Hills Handicap. Gary Stevens will ride the 120-pound high weight, who was third, beaten by a half-length, by Miss Josh in the Gamely. The rest of the field includes Sun Brandy (Corey Nakatani, 12-1), Island Jamboree (Eddie Delahoussaye, 6-1), Alcando (Julio Garcia, 20-1), Somethingmerry (Laffit Pincay, 8-1), Countus In (Jose Santos, 4-1), Odalea (Patrick Valenzuela, 8-1) and Reluctant Guest (Chris McCarron, 3-1).