HOLLYWOOD PARK : Frankel Becomes an Importer With No Hint of Trade Deficit

If the Bobby Frankel stable were an NBA franchise, it would be way over the salary cap.

What was already a powerful barn has become even more potent with the infusion of 15 quality horses since the Breeders’ Cup. By the trainer’s own conservative estimate, there are 30 stakes winners in his care. The potential is there for Frankel to end Wayne Lukas’ decade-long run of money titles next year.

Creaking Board, one of the new arrivals, didn’t waste time making her presence felt. Four weeks after finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Creaking Board won the $250,000 Miesque Stakes last Saturday.

Later the same day, Devil’s Rock, also making his first start for Frankel, finished second in the $250,000 Hoist The Flag Stakes. However, he suffered a broken knee during the race and is sidelined indefinitely.

Frankel will send out another newcomer in the $84,800 Allez France Handicap today at Hollywood Park. He entered three in the 1 1/16 mile turf race for fillies and mares, but only Storm Dove is scheduled to start.

Guiza, who already has two victories at the meeting, was scratched Friday and might be entered in the closing-day Dahlia Handicap on Christmas Eve. Euphonic is expected to make her debut for Frankel in an allowance race in the coming weeks.

A 3-year-old daughter of Storm Bird, owned by Juddmonte Farms, Storm Dove was second, beaten by a neck, in a Nov. 1 allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Before that, she won three of 10 in England.

“She probably should have won her last race,” Frankel said. “She ran gamely at the end, but (the Allez France) isn’t an easy race. Explosive Ele and Guislane will be tough.”

Trained by Gary Jones, Explosive Ele ran fifth in the Gaily Gaily at Gulfstream the same day Storm Dove was second. Although she hasn’t won in her last four starts, the 5-year-old Explodent mare upset Super Staff on the Hollywood Park turf course on June 21.

Fifth of seven in the Las Palmas Handicap in her American debut, Guislane will race on Lasix today for trainer Rodney Rash. The 3-year-old, French-bred filly had three victories in 13 starts in France and was third in two Group I events.

Berillon, who has been in Frankel’s barn for more than 1 1/2 years, will be the trainer’s representative in the $109,700 Native Diver Handicap at 1 1/8 miles Sunday.

A winner of only three of his last 16 on turf, the 5-year-old Rousillon gelding tried the dirt for the first time in the Hillsdale Handicap on Nov. 22. Berillon responded with a $44 upset and might have found a home on the main track.

“He’s been inconsistent on the turf and had always trained well on the dirt, so I decided to take a chance,” Frankel said. “Claret (third in the Pacific Classic and second in the San Diego Handicap) is by the same sire and so was Flaming Torch (a mare Frankel trained), and I wish I had tried her on the dirt sooner.

“I was surprised with how well he ran, and I was impressed. I hope he doesn’t do what he’s done on the turf, and that is run a bad one after he’s run a good one.”

Frankel is again training for French owner Daniel Wildenstein and said he that he might pick up some more horses from a major owner he declined to identify. The success he has had for Juddmonte with the likes of Marquetry and Exbourne hasn’t gone unnoticed overseas.

“It’s really good, excellent,” Frankel said of his stable. “The only place where I’m not really strong is (next year’s) 3-year-olds.

“I’m really grateful to Juddmonte (Prince Khalid Abdullah). He’s the one who put me in the limelight. It seems like when you train for someone like him, it makes it all right for someone else to hire you.”

Pat Valenzuela escaped injury but was off his mounts after being involved in a traffic accident Friday morning.

According to Valenzuela’s agent, Jeff Franklin, the jockey was on a transition road from the 210 Freeway to the Pasadena Freeway when the rear axle on a truck in front of him collapsed. Swerving to avoid the truck, Valenzuela clipped the end of the flat bed, totaling the luxury car that had been given to him by owner Allen Paulson as a reward for his Breeders’ Cup victories on Eliza and Fraise.

Valenzuela, 30, was taken to Arcadia Methodist Hospital, but suffered only a bump on the head and minor cuts. Franklin said Valenzuela almost certainly will ride today.

Horse Racing Notes

The other horses entered for the Native Diver Friday morning were Reign Road, Mr. Integrity, June’s Reward, Doc Of The Day, Memo, Sir Beaufort and Whatcom Warrior . . . Royal Avie, who pulled up as the 6-5 favorite in the fourth race Friday, suffered a bowed a tendon in his right foreleg, an injury that isn’t life-threatening. The 4-year-old Lord Avie gelding was claimed by trainer Sam Aldabbagh . . . Kent Desormeaux won four times Friday with favorites Spara, Kingdom Found, Kanatiyr and Victory Date.