HOLLYWOOD PARK : Paseana Lengths Ahead of Field

Heading into the final five days of the Hollywood Park meeting, here is one man’s opinion on the bests of the season:

Horse of the Meeting, Best Older Filly/Mare--Paseana. The 5-year-old Ahmad mare added two more stakes victories (Milady and Vanity Handicaps) to her total and has won seven in a row for owners Sid and Jenny Craig and trainer Ron McAnally. Although she is two Eclipse Awards behind Bayakoa, Paseana is better than McAnally’s other famous Argentine miss because she is more versatile. Her presence in the $1-million Pacific Classic next month at Del Mar will spice up a race that, at this point, doesn’t look as if it will attract much of a field.

Best Handicap Horse--Another Review. Sure, he was the beaten favorite in the Hollywood Gold Cup, but he didn’t get the best of rides and the feeling still is that he’s better than Gold Cup winner Sultry Song. Before disappointing that day, the 4-year-old son of Buckaroo was dominant in the Mervyn LeRoy and Californian.

3-Year-Old, 3-Year-Old Filly--Pacific Squall. With any kind of luck, this Storm Bird filly could have won three stakes at the meeting. A terrible post position, which led to a terrible trip, cost her any chance of winning the Senorita early in the season, but she rebounded with victories in the Honeymoon and Hollywood Oaks, upsetting the talented Race The Wild Wind in the latter.

3-Year-Old Male--J.F. Williams. The son of Broad Brush has yet to win a stake or try two turns, but he was impressive in all three of his victories at the meeting. It’s only a matter of time before he becomes a stakes winner.

2-Year-Old, 2-Year-Old Filly--Zealous Connection. Bred to be exceptionally quick, the daughter of Unreal Zeal didn’t disappoint in her two races. After toying with $50,000 maiden claimers in her debut, she came back to win the Landaluce by seven lengths, giving owners Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel and trainer Brian Mayberry their third consecutive victory in that race and fourth in the last five years.

2-Year-Old Male--Gilded Time. He won’t be a participant in the Hollywood Juvenile on Monday, the final day of the season, but the Timeless Moment colt turned in a remarkable effort in his first and only appearance on July 15. After breaking well behind his field, he quickly picked up most of his rivals, challenged for the lead with about a quarter of a mile to go, then drew away and won by four lengths while being geared down by Gary Stevens. Trainer Darrell Vienna did the right thing by not bringing him back in 12 days for the Juvenile, but everybody looks forward to seeing the $80,000 purchase again.

Grass Horse--For the moment, there’s no selection in a division where no horse has dominated. However, Algenib will be the choice if he wins the Sunset Handicap, and he figures to be a short price in the 1 1/2-mile race. If he’s upset, Flawlessly would be the favorite. Away since Dec. 1, Flawlessly, a 4-year-old Affirmed filly, returned to beat Kostroma in the Beverly Hills Handicap on June 28 and somewhat sweetened what has been a rather forgettable meeting for trainer Charlie Whittingham.

Sprinter--Forest Glow. The oft-injured 5-year-old returned to win two grass sprints, including the Hollywood Budweiser Breeders’ Cup last Saturday.

Claiming Horse--Ruff Chivalry. The 3-year-old arrived at Hollywood Park a maiden and now he has four victories. He won two for trainer Bill Spawr and, after being claimed, two for Julio Canani. Others worth mentioning are the late-running mare Mari’s Song, who won three in a row for trainer Kim Lloyd, and Slew The Surgeon, who won the Triple Bend Handicap two starts after being claimed for $32,000 by owner Jens List, Jr., and trainer Eric Guillot.

Jockey--Kent Desormeaux. He has dominated the standings and, with his wire-to-wire victory aboard Stalvoy in the seventh race Wednesday, became the first rider to reach 100 winners at Hollywood Park since Chris McCarron in 1984.

Trainer--McAnally. He may not win the trainer’s title, but he’s had another lucrative season and has won with all types of horses. Bob Hess, Jr., Bill Spawr and Brian Mayberry have had huge meetings and also deserve mention.

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey David Flores was off his mounts Wednesday after his wife, Martha, had a miscarriage. Martin Pedroza was also missing Wednesday because of the illness of his son Brian. . . . The Last Thruway, who was being pointed to the $200,000 Swaps Stakes on Saturday, had to be destroyed, according to trainer Clifford Sise Jr. “He just foundered and we had to put him to sleep,” Sise said. “He was a little crampy after cooling out (after a five-furlong work Tuesday), and I thought he was going to tie-up. We worked on him all day and all night, but he didn’t make it.” The Last Thruway won the Tsunami Slew Handicap in what turned out to be his last start. Both Interwit and Buchanan Hollow had to be destroyed that evening after Interwit tried to jump the rail while leading in midstretch and Buchanan Hollow fell over him. . . . Man From Eldorado, who upset Golden Pheasant and Bold Russian in his U.S. debut in the American Handicap, will miss the Sunset Handicap because of illness.