THOROUGHBRED RACING : Casual Lies Ends Layoff, Wins Feature at Golden Gate Fields

Making his first start since Nov. 21, Casual Lies returned in style for owner-trainer Shelly Riley, winning the Golden Gate Budweiser Breeders’ Cup by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

It was the first victory in more than 15 months for the 4-year-old Lear Fan colt, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness last year.

Well-positioned throughout by Gary Boulanger, Casual Lies got the lead entering the stretch and went on to beat Desert Sun in 1:40 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

“It was an absolutely perfect ride,” Riley said. “I talked to Gary (Friday night), and he was more confident than I was.

“I’m always confident . . . he’s not a horse who’s going to win by 10 lengths. When he gets by the other horses, he figures his job is done. I felt confident, but things happen. I always feel this horse can win in every race he’s in.”

It was the first time Boulanger had ridden Casual Lies, who is expected to make his next start in the $125,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 31.

“He felt really strong,” Boulanger said. “He has a lot of class. When you ask him to run, he gives you his life.

“The opportunity to ride a horse like this is once in a lifetime. A horse like this can take you to all the races you dream about.”

Casual Lies paid $8.40 at Golden Gate and $11.40 at Hollywood Park, where the race was simulcast. Desert Sun finished a length ahead of Supermec, then came Seahawk Gold, Military Hawk, Region, Infamous Deed, Athenia Green, Vying Victor and Last Lion.

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The Bobby Frankel-trained and Juddmonte Farms-owned entry of Jolypha and Toussaud is the even-money morning line favorite for the $321,200 Beverly Hills Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

Making her first start of the year and the defending champion in the Grade I, Flawlessly is the 6-5 second choice. The 1992 Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top female grass horse is the 123-pound highweight. She will carry two pounds more than Jolypha and six more than Toussaud, who will probably be scratched.

Third behind A.P. Indy and Pleasant Tap in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Jolypha was an easy winner of her first start of the year on May 8. She has since returned to train well and Kent Desormeaux will ride.

The other entrants in the 1 1/8-mile turf race are Steff Graf (David Flores, 15-1), Wedding Ring (Alex Solis, 8-1) and Party Cited (Pat Valenzuela, 8-1).

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After two dismal races at Santa Anita, Toulon turned things around at Hollywood Park in what was basically a match race in the $80,200 Jim Murray Handicap.

Frankel entered three horses in the 1 1/2-mile Murray on Thursday morning, but scratched Missionary Ridge on Friday, then Intelligently on Saturday morning, leaving Toulon to take on 3-5 favorite Beyton and the outclassed Hero’s Welcome and Super Chief.

On the lead virtually throughout under Eddie Delahoussaye, the 5-year-old Top Ville horse won by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:26 3/5 as the 8-5 second choice.

“This horse always showed he had talent when I worked him at Santa Anita,” Delahoussaye said. “He always worked well. Then the one time I rode him (Feb. 15), he didn’t run well and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. Finally we found out later--after Kent (Desormeaux) rode him (March 3)--he had a quarter crack somewhere.”

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Rough Habit, preparing for his first start on dirt in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup this Saturday, worked three furlongs in 36 1/5 Saturday morning.

A New Zealand-bred gelding who has won 24 of 56 career starts and earned more than $3.2 million in Australia, Rough Habit is one of eight probables for the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup. The other likely starters are Best Pal, Lottery Winner, Major Impact, Marquetry, Missionary Ridge, Potrillon, Sir Beaufort and Latin American, who worked a mile in 1:39 1/5 Saturday morning for trainer Robert Marshall.

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Kent Desormeaux won four times Saturday, he first with Belle Of Paducah, the Debonair Junior Handicap with Silver Picea, the fourth with Charming Spender and the ninth with Buttermilk. . . . Flagship Commander, who broke his maiden by four lengths in 57 4/5 on June 9 at Hollywood Park, is the 9-5 morning favorite to get his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Ladbroke Futurity, the closing-day feature at Golden Gate Fields today. Martin Pedroza will ride Flagship Commander for trainer Bob Baffert. The 5 1/2-furlong race will be simulcast at Hollywood Park between the fifth and sixth races. . . . Even-money favorite Meafara won the $150,450 Budweiser Breeders’ Cup at Arlington Park Saturday, beating 5-2 second choice Shared Interest by 1 1/2 lengths. Juvenal Diaz was aboard the 4-year-old Meadowlake filly, who covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.