HOLLYWOOD PARK : Serena’s Song Wins, Might Take On Males

Now that Serena’s Song has beaten up on her own gender, the 2-year-old Rahy filly might next take on the boys.

Owner Bob Lewis and trainer Wayne Lukas didn’t rule out the possibility of Serena’s Song returning in the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 25 after her easy victory in the $111,800 Landaluce at Hollywood Park on Saturday.

Ending trainer Brian Mayberry’s four-year domination of the Landaluce, Serena’s Song, the 6-5 favorite, stalked the early pace under Gary Stevens, then took over from 5-2 second choice Cat’s Cradle with about an eighth of a mile to run and went to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:10 for the six furlongs.

Embroidered, the longest shot in the field of 10 at nearly 66-1, rallied to finish second, two lengths ahead of Cat’s Cradle. Mayberry, who had two starters in his bid for his fifth consecutive victory in the Grade II event, saw How So Oiseau and Chordette finish seventh and last, respectively.

A 10-length maiden winner in her California debut after two starts in Kentucky, Serena’s Song continued a stakes streak for Stevens. He won the Hollywood Gold Cup with Slew Of Damascus and the Beverly Hills Handicap with Corrazona the previous weekend.

“We’ll talk that over (the possibility of running in the Juvenile),” Lukas said after his first victory in the Landaluce since 1987. “That’s a possibility, but there are some very lucrative filly races in the future. We’ll just take a look at it and see what comes up.

“Gary just settled her a little bit and I think that was good in the fact that she won because this is going to help her down the line.”

Stevens was concerned going to the gate because Serena’s Song was more nervous than she had been before her maiden victory.

“This filly was probably more impressive to me today than last time because she got stirred up going to the gate,” he said. “She got hot and excited and it took a little starch out of her.

“Frankly, I had lost a little confidence going to the gate because she had gotten so hot. But five jumps away from the gate, I got my confidence back. She won very easily. I really think this filly can do just about anything.”

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If the pattern of recent years holds, Sardula won’t win the $210,000 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park today.

Eddie Delahoussaye is her rider and he has been winning this race every other year lately. After winning with Gorgeous in 1989, he came back with Fowda in 1991, then posted a 16-1 surprise with Hollywood Wildcat in her California debut last year.

Lakeway, second behind Sardula in the Kentucky Oaks, is the 4-5 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, which drew only two other entrants--Fancy ‘N Fabulous and Sportful Snob--and the latter might be scratched to run in next Saturday’s Valkyr Handicap. An easy winner of the Mother Goose at Belmont Park in her most recent race, Lakeway drew the rail.

Sardula, who drew right outside Lakeway, is the 6-5 second choice as she goes for her third victory without a loss at Hollywood Park. She won the Princess by 5 1/2 lengths on June 18 and withstood an inquiry when winning the Hollywood Starlet late last year.

Win or lose, Delahoussaye won’t ride for at least a week after today’s races. He will undergo two nasal surgeries Monday, a sinusotomy to clean his nasal passages and a septoplasty to repair a deviated septum.

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Alex Solis had five winners on a single program for the third time at the meeting Friday night and he has all but clinched the riding title.

The only one of Solis’ mounts to lose was Crown Sterling, who finished fifth in the ninth race. Earlier, Solis had won with Curve In The Road, Pride And Power, Bolvari, Alybally and Mr. C I Prospector. He has 71 victories, 15 more than Stevens.

“I just thank my agent (Harry Hacek) and God that I am doing so well,” Solis said. “I’m proud that every day I try to improve my riding and bring it to a better level. I also try very hard to get along with all the horses I ride. When a rider is confident, I feel the horse he rides can sense that confidence.

“One of the greatest things that happened to me is my agent. He’s right on top of the business. He’s on top of everything, and that makes my job a lot easier.”

Horse Racing Notes

Jeff Lukas and his wife, Linda, were among those in the winner’s circle after Serena’s Song’s victory. . . . For the second consecutive week, there were no perfect tickets in the National Best Seven, so there is a carryover of $309,382.10 for Saturday. The biggest upset was provided by Danville ($37) in the Round Table at Arlington. . . . Fastness, making his first start since finishing fourth in the Hollywood Derby last Nov. 20, was impressive winning the first race Saturday. The 4-year-old Rousillon colt was ridden by Corey Black and is trained by Jenine Sahadi for the Evergreen Farm. . . . Fu Man Slew will leave Monday to run in Saturday’s Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel. Individual Style, who defeated Fu Man Slew in the Harry Henson on June 17, is already at Laurel and will also run in the race.

The Wicked North, who underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to remove a chip in his right front ankle, came out of the surgery well, according to surgeon Ted Fisher. . . . Arches Of Gold, making her first start for trainer April Mayberry, won the $49,000 Dahlia Stakes at Ellis Park on Saturday. Joe Steiner rode the 5-year-old mare, who won by 4 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite. . . . Eddie Delahoussaye won three times Saturday, including a victory on favored C’mon Lets Dance in the $60,000 Hidden Light Handicap.