HOLLYWOOD PARK : Toussaud Comes on Strong at Finish in Wilshire ‘Cap

Turning into the stretch in the $108,500 Wilshire Handicap at Hollywood Park, it didn’t appear Bobby Frankel’s confidence in Toussaud was going to be rewarded.

The trainer told friends he thought the 4-year-old filly would win the Grade II Sunday, but Visible Gold, after being left alone on the lead, had kicked clear and appeared on her way to duplicating a victory in last month’s Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita.

In the final furlong, Toussaud showed why Frankel was so confident.

Running the last sixteenth of a mile in less than six seconds under Kent Desormeaux, the 2-1 favorite got up to beat Visible Gold by three-quarters of a length in 1:40 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Toussaud won for the first time in three U.S. starts and has now won four of nine overall. This despite the fact she’s not the easiest filly in the world to train.

“I found that out the first day I took her to the racetrack,” Frankel said. “She wheels and won’t gallop. She would go about an eighth of a mile and pull right up. She’s got a mind of her own.”

Fourth in the Queen Elizabeth Cup last Oct. 24 at Keeneland, Toussaud returned in an April 8 allowance race at Santa Anita.

Even though she was a beaten favorite that day, Frankel was encouraged by the effort. She was beaten only a neck while finishing third.

“I thought it was a very good race,” he said. “(Desormeaux) didn’t know her and I didn’t know what to expect from her. She broke well and he let her drop out of it and she quit running on him.

“She stopped like she does in the morning. Then, he got her running again--swung her outside--then she ducked in behind a horse and she quit running again. Then, she came running late. I didn’t think I had her that tight because I wasn’t able to gallop her at all.

“I thought that race would help her. The only thing I was worried about was if I did too much with her. I put three (six-furlong) works into her between races. I was excited that she was (working) on the flat and not out of the gate, that I probably got carried away a little bit. But it worked out well.”

Visible Gold, the 5-1 fourth choice, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Wedding Ring. Sun And Shade, the 2-1 second choice, finished sixth.

Horse Racing Notes

Making her first start around two turns and on turf, Soviet Problem remained unbeaten with a two-length victory in the $100,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields. The California-bred daughter of Moscow Ballet went right to the front under Randy Schacht and was never threatened in her fifth consecutive victory. She completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 and paid $3.40. She paid $4 at Hollywood Park, where the race was simulcast. Amal Hayati outfinished Fondly Remembered for second, then came Steal A March, Evening Highlight and Sweet Mama. . . . Alydeed remained unbeaten in three 1993 starts with a nose victory over Loach in the $150,000 Carter Handicap Sunday at Aqueduct. Ridden by Craig Perret, the 4-5 favorite ran as a team with Loach, an 8-1 shot, throughout and got the nod in the photo in 1:22 3/5 for the seven furlongs. Four lengths back in third was Argyle Lake, who finished a head in front of Slerp. Trained by Bob Hess Jr., Slerp was seeking his second consecutive stakes victory in New York after capturing the Bold Ruler on April 9. . . . Jockey David Flores was off his mounts Sunday due to illness. . . . Although he barely missed with Visible Gold, Sal Gonzalez Jr. scored the biggest upset of the 10-day old meeting when Careening For Paul won the seventh race and paid $180.20.