HOLLYWOOD PARK : Kostroma’s Trainer Unhappy That Miss Josh Will Not Start

Trainer Gary Jones, whose Kostroma shoots for her fourth victory without a loss this year, wishes Miss Josh was going to be a starter in Sunday’s $200,000 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Instead, Miss Josh is in Florida resting, having completed her work for 1991. Her handlers said that she has accomplished enough to merit the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top turf filly or mare.

Unquestionably, Miss Josh has been solid this year, and has beaten males. But Kostroma simply dominated a field that was among the best in Yellow Ribbon history. And Fire The Groom, third in that race, beat Miss Josh in Arlington Park’s Beverly D. on Aug. 31.

“I’m very disappointed Miss Josh isn’t coming,” said Jones, who has called Kostroma the best filly or mare he has trained. “I’d like to see what would have happened if they got together. But, if I were (trainer Barclay Tagg), I don’t think I’d come either.

“If my mare can win Sunday, she’d certainly solidify her position (for an Eclipse). She’d have two Grade I’s, a world record and a stakes record (in the Osunitas) as well as being undefeated. Plus, more than a few people have said the Yellow Ribbon field was the strongest, top to bottom, in the history of the race.

“The Yellow Ribbon didn’t take nearly as much out of her as the Las Palmas did. She’s going good, so why not run her? She worked good Tuesday morning (six furlongs in 1:15 2/5 at Santa Anita). . . . It was an easy work for her. They had just dug up the track, so it was pretty slow, and all we wanted to do was let her run for about 10 jumps before the wire. It was perfect.”

Jones will be busy the next few days. Besides Kostroma, he will send out Let’s Go Flying in today’s On Trust Handicap, Apollo and Polar Bird in Friday’s Hollywood Turf Express, which will be run in divisions, and probably Best Pal in Saturday’s Citation Handicap. Best Pal could be joined by Classic Fame.

Owner John Mabee is eager for Best Pal to make his turf debut in the Citation, which is likely to be split, but Jones isn’t happy with the 3-year-old gelding’s 119-pound assignment.

“I guess this horse is supposed to be Superman or something,” said Jones, who was also displeased with Best Pal’s 124-pound package for the California Cup Classic, a race in which he was beaten by Charmonnier as the heavy favorite.

“He’s still a 3-year-old, he got beat by Cal breds and he’s never been on turf against horses that have been on grass their whole lives,” Jones said. “Just imagine if he had won some money on the turf. He’d be carrying 154 pounds.”

Mike Marten, a longtime writer for the Daily Racing Form, has been appointed public relations officer for the California Horse Racing Board, a newly created position.

A correspondent for the Form since 1980 and the paper’s senior correspondent since January, Marten’s appointment becomes effective Jan. 2.

According to the announcement made by the CHRB executive secretary, the post is “designed to improve the CHRB’s lines of communication with the industry and the news media and to better inform the public of the agency’s activities and objectives.”

“For some time now, the commissioners have recognized the need for a public relations officer to assist them and their staff in improving communications,” said Dennis Hutcheson, executive secretary of the CHRB. “We began screening candidates for this position last summer and we were fortunate to find a person with Mike Marten’s qualifications available to fill the post. He’ll be working closely with the (CHRB) commissioners, myself and the rest of our staff.”

Letthebighossroll, winner of the California Cup Sprint in his last start, is the 6-5 morning line favorite for today’s $109,000 On Trust Handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs.

Restricted to California breds, the On Trust will have six other starters, three of whom just finished behind Letthebighossroll in the Cal Cup. Softshoe Sure Shot was fourth, Due To The King was a troubled sixth and Express It was eighth. The other starters are the Golden Eagle Farm owned entry of Let’s Go Flying and Individualist, who upset Sensational Star in last year’s On Trust, and Run On The Bank.

Frank Alvarado, who returned from a 60-day suspension Nov. 20, won four times Wednesday, twice on longshots. Wendy’s Star paid $71.40 and Phantom Signal $76.

Suspended after testing positive for cocaine during the Fairplex meeting, Alvarado also won with Over The Pole and Perky Slew, a mount he picked up from Alex Solis, who was involved in Sunday’s three-horse spill. Bruised and sore, Solis is expected to return to work Saturday.

Horse Racing Notes

Antonio Castanon will begin a five-day suspension Saturday because of an incident in last Sunday’s 10th race. Riding longshot Boydoctor, Castanon was cited for crossing over without sufficient clearance into the first turn. . . . Trainer Julio Canani claimed Century Of Gold for $100,000 for owner David Sofro. The claim was the biggest at Hollywood Park in two years. Century Of Gold was fourth as the favorite in the third race. . . . Because of the holiday, post time today is 11 a.m.