HOLLYWOOD PARK : Soviet Problem Easy Winner of the Valkyr

Soviet Problem has already won a match race this year and there was some discussion about another during the upcoming Del Mar meeting.

After the 4-year-old Moscow Ballet filly did what she was supposed to against six California-bred rivals in the $108,300 Valkyr Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday, a showdown with Cool Air was mentioned.

The night before, Cool Air had won for the sixth time in seven starts since joining trainer Gary Jones’ barn and remained unbeaten in three tries on the Hollywood Park turf with a 2 1/2-length victory over males in the $155,600 Hollywood Budweiser Breeders’ Cup.

Winning for the 11th time in 14 starts, Soviet Problem, the 3-5 favorite, won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:01 3/5 for the 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, the same time Cool Air had Friday night.

“Hopefully, Gary Jones won’t think about resting Cool Air,” said Chris McCarron, who is perfect in two tries with Soviet Problem. “(Jones’ assistant and son) Marty said Friday there is nothing down at Del Mar for her. So, maybe we can get a match race put on. It would be the first ever at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass at Del Mar.”

Carrying top weight of 125 pounds, Soviet Problem battled with Miss L Attack, drew away by five lengths with an eighth of a mile to run, then had more than enough left to beat Best Dress, the 9-2 second choice who rallied from last.

“There’s only one filly and mare (sprint) race at Del Mar (the Rancho Bernardo Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Aug. 13), “ said John Harris, who owns Soviet Problem along with Don Valpredo. “It’s a Breeders’ Cup race, but she’s not eligible (for) the Breeders’ Cup, but we’d take a look at that.

“Then, there’s the Bing Crosby (on July 31), but that’s coming back in two weeks. We thought about running her in the race at Laurel today (the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash), but she was in California and doing well here, so you hate to ship around if you’ve got nice races right here.”

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Sea Cadet, making his first start since Nov. 21, 1992, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the $163,300 Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood Park today.

Bothered by ankle problems and colitis during his time off, the 6-year-old Bolger horse has a series of sharp works for trainer Ron McAnally and has never been off the board in five starts at Hollywood Park. He has two victories, a second and two thirds.

Regular rider Alex Solis will be aboard and he is the highweight at 119 pounds.

Tinners Way, who won for the first time in eight American races, is the 5-2 morning-line second choice. Trained by Bobby Frankel and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, the 4-year-old Secretariat colt won as the 2-5 favorite in the Golden Gate Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap. In his last local start, he was beaten by a half-length by Del Mar Dennis in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on May 15.

The other main contenders in the race are Region, who hasn’t run since finishing last in the Santa Anita Handicap, and Lykatill Hil, who has won two of three since returning to the races after being sidelined for more than five months.

The rest of the field in the 1 1/16-mile Bel Air includes Williamstown, Brilliant Blue, Dr Pain and Seahawk Gold. Williamstown will go back on Lasix today after being without it for his last two starts.

Horse Racing Notes

Journalism, the 2-5 favorite, won the $66,200 Khaled Handicap, easily beating Der Rosenkavalier in 1:40 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf. Corey Nakatani rode for owner Richard Stephen and trainer Wally Dollase. . . . Hollywood Park will simulcast the River Downs Budweiser Breeders’ Cup at 1 1/2 miles on turf between the third and fourth races today. . . . User Friendly worked a mile in 1:38 1/5 Saturday and is scheduled to make her American debut for trainer Rodney Rash in the Ramona Handicap on Aug. 6 at Del Mar. . . . Miss High Blade, the 6-year-old mare who has won two in a row while in foal, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite against five rivals in the $60,000 Ack’s Secret Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf. . . . There were seven perfect tickets in the National Best Seven Saturday, and based on a 50-cent wager, each was worth $16,910.90. Six winners was worth $123.95 and the total pool was $672,804.50.