HOLLYWOOD PARK : Renegotiable to Try Turf Today

One of the best developments of 1992 is the comeback of Renegotiable, the probable favorite in today’s feature at Hollywood Park, a $41,000 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

A son of Floating Reserve, Renegotiable showed hints of talent last year after losing his first three races against maiden-claimers. Renegotiable broke his maiden by three lengths last June 6, then returned to beat $50,000 claimers by the same margin in his first try around two turns.

After finishing a distant second to Pillaring in the Orange County Derby at Los Alamitos Aug. 10, he went to the sidelines and didn’t return until April 22 at Santa Anita.

Owned by Harry Belles and his daughter Sandra Manzi, the widow of Joe Manzi, who bred the colt in Kentucky, Renegotiable has come back blazing for trainer Jack Van Berg.

A 7-1 shot in his first start of the year, at Santa Anita, he toyed with allowance rivals at seven furlongs, winning by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:21 4/5 without being asked by Eddie Delahoussaye. He led every step of the way on a day when late-runners were dominant.

Coming back on May 24 at Hollywood Park, he won by four lengths in 1:41 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles. The 4-5 favorite this time, he again had something left at the finish.

Although there’s a remote chance Renegotiable may be a late scratch today in favor of the Californian on Sunday, he probably will make his turf debut, and he has a bullet work over the Hollywood Park course. He went seven furlongs in 1:25 2/5 on May 15.

“He’s matured and gotten stronger,” said Van Berg about the colt’s improvement. “He had a little bit of a sore shin (last summer) and he was given plenty of time off.

“Since he’s come back, he’s worked as well as any horse in the country. He’s awfully good right now, and he worked awfully fast on the turf.”

Laffit Pincay, who is unbeaten in two collaborations with Renegotiable, will be aboard today. The other starters are Cool Offer, Adversary, Magnificent Red, Kanawar and Bourgogne.

If all goes well, this could be a dream weekend for trainer Chris Speckert. Not to mention a very lucrative two days.

Speckert, who has 15 horses in his barn, will have starters in three races Saturday and Sunday, with purses totaling over $900,000.

Second in the Metropolitan Mile in his last start, Pleasant Tap will attempt to give Eddie Delahoussaye his second consecutive victory in the $500,000 Nassau County Handicap, the fifth race in the American Championship Racing Series, Saturday at Belmont Park. Delahoussaye won from far back last year on Festin.

The next day, Speckert will saddle Pleasant Stage in the $200,000 Mother Goose while, at Hollywood Park, trainer Brad MacDonald will saddle Another Review for Speckert in the $200,000-added Californian.

Perfect in two starts since adding Lasix, Another Review will be favored in the 1 1/8-mile Californian, the final prep for the June 27 Hollywood Gold Cup. Kent Desormeaux will ride the 4-year-old, who has won the San Bernardino and Mervyn LeRoy in succession.

Other probables for the Grade I are the Charlie Whittingham-trained duo of Excavate and Sir Beaufort, Admirallus and Ibero.

Sir Beaufort, second to Another Review in the LeRoy, worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 Wednesday morning, two-fifths slower than Excavate went the same distance.

Best Pal, who suffered his first loss of the year in the Pimlico Special, had his first work since that race Monday morning. He went three furlongs in 37 flat.

The Gold Cup hasn’t been ruled out for the 4-year-old gelding, who came out of the Special with bruised feet. “It depends on the weight,” trainer Gary Jones said. “Not so much what he gets, but how much he gives away.”

Horse Racing Notes

There is a Pick Six carryover of $291,911.40 after nobody swept races 4-9 for the second consecutive day. . . . How bad is today’s ninth race, a $32,000 maiden claiming race for California bred fillies and mares? Sceptre Too, who has managed only three third-place finishes from 33 starts, is the 9-2 second choice on the morning line. . . . United Parcel Services, Inc. has backed out of an $18 million deal to buy 30 acres of land from Hollywood Park. The sale, which was announced a year ago, reportedly fell through because UPS wasn’t able to secure insurance for building in the area. . . . Track announcer Trevor Denman will be featured on “Entertainment Tonight” at 7 p.m. tonight on Channel 4.