HOLLYWOOD PARK : Longshot Makes Trip Worth It

Jerry Bailey’s trip to California wasn’t a waste of time after all.

Three races after Arcangues finished last in the Gold Cup, Bailey rode R Friar Tuck to a $47.20 upset in the $163,600 Affirmed Handicap.

Riding the 3-year-old gelding for the first time, Bailey sat off the pace early, moved up four-wide approaching the quarter-pole to join the leaders, then went on to win by three-quarters of a length over Pollock’s Luck in 1:49 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Bred in Utah by owner S. David Plummer, one of the country’s leading breeders of quarter horses, R Friar Tuck showed nothing in his first four starts but has won three of his last five.

Wild Invader was third, a half-length behind Pollock’s Luck and it was another four back to Argolid, the 9-10 favorite.

The day’s other stakes race, the $108,400 Triple Bend Handicap, also provided some consolation for Arcangues’ trainer, Richard Mandella.

Memo, one of the country’s top sprinters, won by 2 3/4 lengths in a track record 1:20 2/5 for the seven furlongs. Fifty Six Ina Row set the old record of 1:20 4/5 in 1985.

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Hollywood Wildcat, who remained unbeaten on the turf with a victory in the Gamely Handicap on June 12, is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the $323,400 Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park today.

Returning after a layoff of about four months, Hollywood Wildcat dropped back to last at one point in the Gamely, then took off late and won by 2 1/4 lengths for her third grass victory. Eddie Delahoussaye will again ride the 4-year-old Kris S. filly, who will carry 124 pounds.

Flawlessly, the co-highweight, is the 8-5 second choice as she tries to rebound from her first defeat in seven starts on the Hollywood Park turf course.

Horse Racing Notes

The other entrants in the Beverly Hills, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles, are Mz. Zill Bear, Corrazona, Potridee, Empress Club and Zoonaqua. . . . There is a two-day carryover in the Pick Six of $233,768.43. . . . Hollywood Park will simulcast the $300,000 Arlington Classic today between the fourth and fifth races. Corey Nakatani will ride Eagle Eyed for trainer Bobby Frankel in the 1 1/8-mile turf race and Chris Antley will be aboard Jersey Derby winner Zuno Star for trainer Mark Hennig.

Seven horses were entered Saturday morning for Monday’s $218,000 American Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. From the rail out, the entrants include Gothland, Semillon, Silver Wizard, Johann Quatz, Blues Traveller, Portico and Furiously. . . . Favored Work The Crowd won the $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes Saturday at Arlington. Turk Passer beat 1993 Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero by 2 3/4 lengths in winning the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park. Fraise, the 6-5 favorite, was another neck back in third in the field of six in the 1 3/8-mile turf race. . . . Hyroglyphic scored a wire-to-wire victory in the $116,000 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs. Boone’s Mill, part of the favored Wayne Lukas-trained entry, was six lengths back in second in the race for 2-year-olds.