HOLLYWOOD PARK : Kostroma Hopes to Eclipse Field of Rivals on Grass in Matriarch

Hollywood Park is saving the most important race for last in its second Autumn Turf Festival.

Featuring six stakes worth $1.75 million, the four-day festival will end Sunday with the $400,000 Matriarch.

With Kostroma joining Flawlessly and Super Staff in the field, an Eclipse Award for the nation’s top female grass performer could be on the line.

Scheduled to run against Flawlessly and Super Staff in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes on Nov. 8 at Santa Anita, Kostroma had to pass because of a lung infection.

For a time, it wasn’t certain the 6-year-old mare would be able to run in the 1 1/8-mile Matriarch, either, but her last three workouts have convinced trainer Gary Jones she is ready to go.

The final decision was made after Kostroma worked six furlongs under Kent Desormeaux in 1:13 4/5 Monday morning at Santa Anita.

“The only way we were going (to run in the Matriarch) was if her last three works were perfect, and she came back clean,” Jones said. “That’s exactly what she’s done. Kent said she’s ready to roll.

“She’s coming up to the race just right, and it might work in her favor that she didn’t run in the Yellow Ribbon like (Super Staff and Flawlessly).”

Idle since winning the Beverly D on Sept. 5 in Illinois, Kostroma has demonstrated her ability to run well fresh. The Irish-bred mare returned after four months on the sidelines to beat 1991 Eclipse Award winner Miss Alleged in the Santa Barbara Handicap earlier this year, Kostroma’s first victory in this country after she had been away for 10 months.

Successful in 11 of 24 starts, Kostroma’s batting average is much lower at Hollywood Park. She has won only one of three there and finished sixth as the even-money favorite in last year’s Matriarch when she bruised a foot. Flawlessly defeated Fire The Groom by nearly two lengths in winning the Grade I race.

“There’s a little concern (about the turf course), but it’s softer than it has been,” Jones said. “Everybody says that. If you remember last year, it had been very windy and the course was dry and hard and she got hurt.

“Last summer, she didn’t run that badly. She won (the Wilshire Handicap on May 10) and was beaten by a head (by Flawlessly in the Beverly Hills Handicap on June 26). People forget that we gave Flawlessly two pounds (124-122) that day, and they went the half-mile in 49 (seconds) and my mare was out in the clear and that’s not the way she wants to run.

“With a normal pace in a race, I don’t think Flawlessly is as good as my mare.”

Jones said Kostroma’s chances are further enhanced by the presence of Super Staff, who has beaten Flawlessly in their last two meetings. In a change of style, Super Staff, a 4-year-old Secretariat filly, has gone wire to wire in winning the Las Palmas Handicap and the Yellow Ribbon.

“They’ve changed her style of running and it’s made her a better filly,” Jones said. “It does help our position. A decent pace is what my mare needs.”

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Best Pal’s comeback from a leg injury is ahead of schedule, and it’s possible he could return to the races in the seven-furlong San Carlos Handicap on Jan. 9 at Santa Anita.

Inactive since finishing fourth in the Pimlico Special in May, the 4-year-old Habitony gelding had his first recorded workout on Monday at Hollywood Park. He breezed three furlongs in 38 seconds.

“He did it slow and easy,” Jones said. “He’s really a little ahead of schedule. He’s doing very well.”

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Charmonnier, the beaten favorite in the California Cup Classic, will try to make amends in the $111,600 On Trust Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

With the scratch Wednesday of Bullet Points, Charmonnier, winless since upsetting Best Pal in the 1991 Cal Cup Classic, will be starting from the rail in the On Trust at 7 1/2 furlongs.

The 120-pound highweight is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line in the field of nine California-breds. Corey Nakatani will ride for trainer Noble Hay III.

The other starters are Incandescently with Corey Black; His Legacy, Paul Atkinson; Mystery’s Edge, Pat Valenzuela; What A Spell, Kent Desormeaux; Run On The Bank, Adalberto Lopez; Softshoe Sure Shot, Alex Solis; Sondheimer, Gary Stevens, and Individualist, Laffit Pincay. Run On The Bank is the defending champion in the On Trust, and Individualist won the race in 1990.

Horse Racing Notes

Post time today is 11 a.m. . . . After a two-day carryover in the Pick Six, there were 53 winning tickets Wednesday, each worth $11,957.60. Skylaunch, at $14.20 in the ninth, was the highest-price winner in the six races. . . . Despite reports that a decision has already been made on the future of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner A.P. Indy, part-owner and breeder Will Farish said something should be forthcoming within two weeks on whether the 3-year-old will be retired or return to race next year. Speculation has been that A.P. Indy will be retired and stand at Farish’s Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Ky. . . . Getting ready for the Matriarch, Flawlessly worked half a mile on turf in 47 2/5 on Wednesday morning.