HOLLYWOOD PARK : Solis in Spill, Has Minor Injuries

Jockey Alex Solis escaped serious injury Friday when he was involved in a spill during the fifth race at Hollywood Park.

The leading rider at Santa Anita earlier this year and second behind Kent Desormeaux in the Hollywood Park standings, Solis was riding favored Rose Window when he went down approaching the far turn.

Attempting to split Love Of The Arts and Dixie Derby, Solis and Rose Window clipped the heels of Dixie Derby, who was ridden by David Flores, and fell.

Solis tumbled over the top of the the 4-year-old filly and, after rolling a couple of times, was struck in the head by the left foreleg of Verdeuse, who was trailing at the time. Solis’ helmet wound up about 20 feet from the jockey.

Alert and talking to those who attended to him, Solis complained of some tenderness in his neck. He was examined by track physician Mark Ellen, then sent to Centinela Hospital Medical Center for precautionary X-rays, which proved negative.

Treated for scrapes on his forehead and above his left ear, he was released later in the afternoon and is expected to ride today.

There was an inquiry posted immediately after the race, but the stewards ruled no jockey error and there was no change in the order of finish.

Another Review, who has improved considerably since being treated with Lasix two races ago, was among seven horses entered Friday morning for Sunday’s $215,400 Californian at Hollywood Park.

Given the anti-bleeding medication before the San Bernardino Handicap on April 4 at Santa Anita, the 4-year-old Buckaroo colt responded with a three-length victory at 16-1, then returned to win the Mervyn LeRoy at Hollywood Park by 2 3/4 lengths.

Desormeaux will again ride for trainer Chris Speckert, who will have starters in three Grade I races this weekend. He will saddle Pleasant Tap in the Nassau County Handicap today at Belmont Park, then will come back with Pleasant Stage in the Mother Goose there Sunday.

Defensive Play, who will be giving one pound to Another Review as the 120-pound highweight, Admirallus, Ibero, Loach and the Charlie Whittingham duo of Excavate and Sir Beaufort are the other entrants in the 1 1/8-mile Californian.

More Than Willing, the beaten choice in the Senorita last month, is the 5-2 favorite in the $112,100 Honeymoon Handicap today, one of 11 races on Hollywood Park’s card.

Besides nine live races, the track will offer betting on the Nassau County Handicap and the Belmont Stakes. Those races will be shown in succession between the first and second races locally.

Also entered in the Honeymoon are Red Bandana, Queens Court Queen, Don B’s Princess, Morriston Belle, Pacific Squall, Thirst For Peace, Cochabamba, Miss Turkana and Onesta.

Horse Racing Notes

Gogarty, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, was moved to second place for interference approaching the wire after winning Friday’s feature, a $55,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Moved up to first was French Seventyfive, in his first start since March 21. Martin Pedroza replaced Alex Solis on French Seventyfive, and that was one of two victories he got in the bargain. He also took over for Solis on sixth-race winner Diamondback Dragon.