HOLLYWOOD PARK : Marquetry Prepping for Gold Cup

A week after he finished second in his 1992 debut, Marquetry returns in Sunday’s $162,800 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The 1 1/16-mile LeRoy is the first prep for next month’s Hollywood Gold Cup, which was won by Marquetry in a 27-1 upset last year. The Californian at 1 1/8 miles follows June 7, 20 days before the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup.

Due to the conditions of the Californian, trainer Bobby Frankel decided to run Marquetry back quickly rather than wait three weeks because his 5-year-old would have to carry 126 pounds.

David Flores will again ride Marquetry, who finished behind Light Of Morn going seven furlongs last week, and he drew post seven in the field of eight. Frankel also entered Now Listen, but that horse will probably run in the Metropolitan Mile May 25 at Belmont Park.

Another Review, the upset winner of the San Bernardino Handicap April 4 at Santa Anita, may be the horse to beat in the Grade II LeRoy. Treated with Lasix for the first time in the San Bernardino, he responded with an easy victory and his final time of 1:47 2/5 was two seconds faster than A.P. Indy’s clocking in the Santa Anita Derby earlier in the day. Kent Desormeaux has the mount for trainer Chris Speckert.

Charlie Whittingham will send out two representatives--Qathif, a turf specialist, and Sir Beaufort.

The other entrants are: Silver Ending, who ended a long losing streak when he won the Bates Motel last month at Santa Anita; Charts, who equaled a track record at Golden Gate when he won the Golden Gate Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap in 1:39 2/5 on April 18, and Native Boundary.

An overflow field of 14 3-year-olds fillies is scheduled to run in the $100,000 added Senorita Breeders’ Cup Stakes today at Hollywood Park.

Miss Turkana is the 121-pound high-weight in the Senorita, which is run at one mile on the turf. Trained by Gary Jones, Miss Turkana is unbeaten in two starts on the grass, having won at Santa Anita and Golden Gate. Antonio Castanon will again ride.

Other contenders include Pacific Squall, More Than Willing, Hopeful Amber, Storm Ring, Moonlight Elegance and Peaceful Road.

Horse Racing Notes

The Preakness will be simulcast between the third and fourth races at Hollywood Park. . . . Julio Garcia, who was supposed to begin riding at Hollywood Park on Wednesday, returns today and is named on three horses. Garcia had 35 victories at this meeting last year and has been riding in his native Puerto Rico since leaving during the Del Mar season last summer.