HOLLYWOOD PARK : Solis Is Leader, and Working to Remain on Top

Comfortably in front of Chris Antley and Gary Stevens and seemingly on his way to a second consecutive riding title at Hollywood Park, Alex Solis isn’t ready to start taking it easy.

On top of his game at 30, Solis will continue to practice on his mechanical horse at home and on the one in the jockeys’ room. He’ll also keep watching tapes of both himself and other riders and continue to be active in the morning.

Obviously, Solis, who also is often seen jogging around the track before the races, isn’t afraid of work, and his effort and dedication are certainly paying off.

Through Thursday, he has 54 victories in the first 38 days of the meeting, 14 more than Antley and 15 more than Stevens. He already has had two five-winner days.

“My agent (Harry Hacek, whom Solis hired late last year) has done a tremendous job,” Solis said Thursday. “All I have to worry about is riding races and improving myself.

“I really love riding horses. I enjoy it so much, I would do it for free and I mean that. Every day, I’m still trying to improve. Right now, everything has come together and I’m so grateful. It feels great.

“I’ve worked very hard and I’m proud of myself. I kept trying and trying and pushed myself to the limit and more. I have to thank God and my wife (Sheila) and kids (Alex Jr., Andrew, Tiffany and Austin) for their support. I couldn’t find a better woman than (Sheila). She’s always been supportive through my ups and downs.”

Although he has been riding at major tracks for nine years, Solis still gives his VCR quite a workout as he tries to increase his knowledge of the sport.

“If you want to learn, this is the place,” Solis said. “I’ll watch things like Patrick (Valenzuela) and Martin (Pedroza) and how they get a horse out of the gate. Or I’ll watch Eddie (Delahoussaye) to see how he relaxes a horse and gets it to come from behind. You can never learn too much. When I watch the tapes at home, my kids will ask me what I’m doing. I tell them, ‘My homework.’

“When I’m on the mechanical horse, I try to picture in my mind how I want to ride a certain horse or I’ll remember a particular ride by another jockey and I’ll try to picture what they did.”

Solis, who went to jockey school in Panama City before going to Florida in 1982, also is an admirer of Laffit Pincay and gives major credit to him and former jockey Fernando Toro for his success.

“I talked to Fernando, and he told me he could help me in a lot of areas,” Solis said. “He told me to relax a little bit on horses, that they’re bred to run and to let them do their own thing. Laffit is so dedicated, and he’s told me I was too uptight. He has so much experience and when he says anything, I understand what he’s talking about.”

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Without question, tonight’s $84,200 Harry Henson, named for Hollywood Park’s longtime track announcer, is the most competitive stakes race of the Hollywood Park meeting.

Of the eight 3-year-olds scheduled to run, five are coming into the 7 1/2-furlong event off victories. And the field has combined for 24 victories in 45 starts.

Argolid, a one-time Triple Crown prospect who has been sidelined because of a foot injury, will make his first start since finishing third in the Louisiana Derby on March 19. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old Saros gelding is the 3-1 favorite and will be ridden by Pat Valenzuela. Argolid won by four lengths at Hollywood Park in his debut on Nov. 21.

Individual Style, the 7-2 second choice, is certainly the most accomplished entrant under the lights. He won his first start by 10 lengths on a Friday night last June 18, then came back on Nov. 26 to win the Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup by 1 1/4 lengths.

Owned by First Cabin Stables and now trained by Ron Penton, the 3-year-old Something Lucky colt finished third on June 1 in his first race in more than five months and should improve off the effort. He drew the outside post and will be ridden by Chris Antley as he goes for his seventh victory in 10 starts.

The rest of the field is composed of Little Lite Bud, who has five victories in 12 starts; Teasing Sea, who has won two in a row; Beautiful Crown; Honest Happiness, perfect in two races; Fu Man Slew, who has won three of four, and Pollock’s Luck. Dream Trapp and Earth Colony were scratched Thursday.

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Vince DeGregory, who has been an agent for Bill Shoemaker, Angel Cordero, Chris McCarron and Laffit Pincay, among others, will find mounts for Goncalino Almeida, replacing Chuck Marikian, who has decided to return to training.

Eddie Delahoussaye, continuing to be bothered by sinusitis, was off his mounts again Thursday and won’t ride tonight. “He was going to see Dr. (Peter) Gabor (on Thursday),” agent Terry Lipham said. “This is really frustrating because he worked horses Wednesday morning and he played golf on Tuesday with no problem. He was in good shape. Then, Wednesday before the races, he felt faint and his blood pressure dropped.”

Alex Solis has been especially effective on Saturdays, winning 17 times on 47 mounts.