HOLLYWOOD PARK : They Seek Gold on Big Weekend

For the first time since owners John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery became involved in thoroughbred racing in the late 1980s, they will have starters in stakes races on consecutive days.

By early Sunday evening, Toffan and McCaffery could have another first: consecutive stakes victories.

Dance For Vanny is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the $109,800 Landaluce Stakes today at Hollywood Park, and Pacific Squall is the probable second choice to Race The Wild Wind in the $217,200 Hollywood Oaks on Sunday.

“I’m a nervous wreck,” McCaffery said from Vancouver. “I called our trainer (Paco Gonzalez) three times (Thursday morning) to find out about the post positions (for the Landaluce). It’s nerve-racking.”

Purchased for $100,000 in March at the Barretts’ sale of 2-year-olds in training, Dance For Vanny won her first start by seven lengths June 14. The Sovereign Dancer filly ran the five furlongs in 57 3/5 and has trained well since.

Pacific Squall, bought as a weanling in Kentucky, has lost only once in four starts, and had several excuses for the defeat. A 3-year-old daughter of Storm Bird, she goes back to the main track--where she is perfect in two starts--after two races on the grass.

Although admittedly nervous, McCaffery is--at the same time--optimistic.

“(Pacific Squall and Dance For Vanny) are both training well, they’re healthy and they’re sound,” she said.

Although both had long been interested in racing and Toffan had owned some horses in Canada years earlier, the pair’s real involvement in the sport began with the purchase of six horses at Keeneland. That was after Toffan, a former stockbroker, and partners discovered some gold mines in Canada. Some of their thoroughbreds--Nice Assay, Eskay Creek, Stikine and Visible Gold--have names connected with those discoveries.

The operation has expanded to 80 horses, about half of which are in training. They are also heavily involved in breeding, with 24 broodmares at Glenwood Farm in Versailles, Ky.

“John’s always been interested in racing, and I grew up around horses,” McCaffery said. “When we were able to afford it, we got back into the business in a big way. It was something both of us always wanted to do.”

This weekend, they hope to double their total of stakes victories for the meeting. Bien Bien, a 3-year-old Manila colt who has improved since switching to the turf, was an easy winner of the Cinema Handicap, and Pacific Squall won the Honeymoon Handicap in her last appearance.

Out of the talented mare Rambolie, Pacific Squall showed her quality from the beginning. She broke her maiden in her first start, going two turns, which isn’t often accomplished. She also did it easily, winning by four lengths.

“She was an awesome-looking filly and she had an awesome pedigree,” McCaffery said in explaining what attracted her and Toffan to Pacific Squall. “She’s got real class. With Storm Birds, if you get a nice one, you get a nice one.”

If McCaffery and Toffan are to win the Landaluce today, they are going to have to beat owners Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel and trainer Brian Mayberry.

The Siegels and Mayberry have won the Landaluce three of the last four years and will be represented by Zealous Connection in the six-furlong race this afternoon.

Mayberry, with nine winners among his 19 2-year-old starters at the meeting after Dr. Bryan’s victory Friday, also will send out Blue Moonlight.

Making her first start in a $50,000 maiden claimer, Zealous Connection won by four lengths and has returned with three fast workouts. She went four furlongs in 45 4/5 seconds on June 13 and 46 1/5 on June 25, then went five furlongs in 58 flat on July 4.

A daughter of Mining, owned by Mary Zuckerman, Blue Moonlight won her second start after finishing second to the promising Devil’s Nell in her debut.

Martin Pedroza, who has ridden Zealous Connection and Blue Moonlight, will ride Zealous Connection today. Alex Solis takes over on Blue Moonlight.

The other entrants in the six-furlong Landaluce are Sunday Sally, the only two-time winner in the field, Medici Bells, Irish Bloomin, I’m An Issue and Sweet Mama.

A daughter of The Irish Lord, Sunday Sally beat California-bred maidens at Hollywood Park on June 5, then came back 15 days later to win the Moraga by three lengths at Golden Gate Fields. Kent Desormeaux will ride for trainer J.R. McCutcheon.

Horse Racing Notes

Besides Race The Wild Wind and Pacific Squall, other entrants in the Hollywood Oaks are Changed Tune, Alysbelle, Omjii I, Looie Capote and Thirst For Peace. . . . Preparing for the Vanity Handicap on July 19, Paseana worked a mile in 1:41 2/5 Friday morning.

Another Ron McAnally trainee, Algenib, worked seven furlongs on turf in 1:26 2/5. Unbeaten in two starts since being moved to McAnally’s barn, Algenib will make race again in the Sunset Handicap on July 26. . . . The Siegel-Mayberry Landaluce winners in the last four years were Distinctive Sis in 1988, Garden Gal in 1990 and Fluttery Danseur in ’91.