HOLLYWOOD PARK : Journalism Has Proved to Be Bargain

Trainer Wally Dollase’s affinity for a mare he bred has proved to be a bonanza for owner Richard Stephen.

Since Dollase purchased Journalism from Buddy Johnston for Stephen earlier this year, the 5-year-old gelding is perfect in three starts, including his biggest victory, in the $108,800 Shoemaker Handicap at Hollywood Park on Sunday.

The second-longest shot in the field at 15-1, Journalism pressed the pace early under Alex Solis, took over after six furlongs and had enough left to beat Lomitas by three-quarters of a length.

Winning for the fourth time in seven starts on turf, the California-bred paid $33 and the final time of 1:32 4/5 equaled the course record set by Miesque in the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“I had followed this horse’s career because of the mare (Knowledgeable Lady),” Dollase said. “I bred her and her sire, Tree Of Knowledge, won the (1974) Hollywood Gold Cup. The mare never got a chance to show what she could do, but she was an absolute runner. She was a bad bleeder. Eric Longden trained her and she was 3-5 first time out because she had worked like Ruffian. She bled first time out and after that, she was a different horse.

“(Journalism had run well) early in his career, but he’d tailed off and I was able to buy him, freshen him and now we have a race horse.

“I won’t tell you what we paid for him, but it’s an embarrassingly low figure (a reported $35,000). Buddy Johnston is a good friend, and I thought he’d sell me a nice horse.”

Dollase never dreamed he’d turn into a Grade II stakes winner after beating California-breds in his first two starts for his new owner.

“We had nowhere else to go with him, so we ran him here,” Dollase said. “I thought he’d run decently and a mile is his best distance and the 113 pounds surely helped him.”

A loser of five in a row, including two defeats against $50,000 claimers, before his winning streak, Journalism is also perfect in two collaborations with Solis. They won the Tiburon Handicap on April 10 at Golden Gate Fields, the same day Solis won the California Derby with Denmars Dream.

“He finished well the other day and I was hoping he’d finish the same way today,” Solis said. “And that’s what he did. Wally’s done a real good job with him.”

A difficult gate horse throughout his career, Lomitas cost himself a victory Sunday when he hopped in the air at the start. Still last at the top of the lane, the 5-year-old surged under Eddie Delahoussaye.

Making his first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last Oct. 31, Brief Truce finished third as the 9-5 favorite. He was a half-length behind Lomitas and two in front of Leger Cat. C. Sam Maggio, Luthier Enchanteur and Steinbeck completed the order of finish.

“The race set up perfect and I was in a perfect spot,” Pat Valenzuela said of the favorite. “At the head of the lane, I had room to go through and he came through. I think he might have gotten a little bit tired in the last sixteenth.”

Jockey Martin Pedroza suffered a slight concussion and a bruised shoulder after being dumped shortly after the start of the first race.

Riding Takeagiantstep in the $10,000 claiming race, Pedroza was unseated when the 4-year-old gelding veered inward leaving the gate and turned virtually sideways. Pedroza went down and appeared to be hit by Olympic Lord, who was ridden by Mike Lee.

According to those on the scene, an unconscious Pedroza was taken immediately to Centinela Hospital Medical Center, where he remained overnight for observation. X-rays taken of his shoulder were negative.

Spurred by Proud Memories’ $148.80 upset in the fourth race, the middle triple paid $77,488.80, the second-highest in Hollywood Park history. The record is $88,694.40, on Dec. 17 last year.

Able to beat only one horse in his previous two starts, Proud Memories and Julio Garcia beat favored Skerry, then Kalita Melody won at nearly 11-1 in the fifth and 4-1 shot Hurry Home Helen won the sixth.

Marco Castaneda, a former regular on the local circuit who has been riding in northern California for the last several years, will return to Hollywood Park this week.

Ray Kravagna, best known as Gary Stevens’ longtime agent, will handle Castaneda. Kravagna is also the agent for Lee, a recent arrival from Florida.

“The racing is tougher than (in northern California), but the purses are bigger and the horses are better,” said Castaneda, who won the Santa Lucia Handicap at Santa Anita with longshot Looie Capote last month.

Horse Racing Notes

Paseana, who won the Apple Blossom Handicap in her last start, worked a half-mile in 49 3/5 Sunday morning for trainer Ron McAnally. . . . Klassy Individual caught pacesetter Winnie D. at the wire to win the $150,000 Black Helen Handicap at Hialeah. Heavily favored Via Borghese was unplaced in the race, which was simulcast at Hollywood Park. . . . Gary Stevens won three times Sunday, including a victory on Campo Marzio in the seventh race. Claimed by Mike Mitchell for $80,000 from Charlie Whittingham a week earlier, the 5-year-old Chilean bred rallied to beat J.F. Williams for his first victory on the main track.