HOLLYWOOD PARK : Native Regent Comes Long Way for Victory in Generous Stakes

Because grass stakes for 2-year-olds are a rare commodity, trainer David Bell circled the $250,000 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park as a possible destination for Native Regent a couple of months ago.

All he had to do in the interim was to see if the Vice Regent colt was worthy of making the long trip from Woodbine in Toronto.

Two wins and two seconds in four previous turf races showed Bell that Native Regent was deserving of the chance, and owner John Franks’ home-bred proved successful in his initial venture outside Canada.

With regular jockey David Penna aboard, Native Regent tracked the pace set by Fandarel Dancer, then withstood a bid by 11-1 longshot Dangerous Scenario and rider Randy Romero to win by a length in 1:37 for the mile.

“This horse has been doing real well here, but shipping out west can be tough on a horse, so you never know,” said Bell, who sent Native Regent here three weeks ago. “The question was, would he handle this turf course? The Woodbine turf course is a little different than this.

“We’ve had our eye on this race for a few months, but we wanted to see if he was good enough first. We’ll go to Florida with him, maybe give him some time off and maybe run at Gulfstream later, but we plan to keep him on the grass in the future.”

Riding for the first time since retiring July 4, then announcing he was returning a couple of weeks ago, Romero finished a half-length in front of 2-1 favorite Claudius on Dangerous Scenario, who was making his first start on grass a month after breaking his maiden.

“That was his first time going a route and he got tired,” said Romero. “Well, I got tired too. It’s been five months now since I’ve ridden a race.

“I thought I had the winner at the top of the lane, but he re-broke and went ahead and drew off while my horse got a little tired.”

Claudius, who had some traffic trouble entering the stretch under Kent Desormeaux, was nearly two lengths in front of Our Gatsby. Perfect did a poor imitation of his superstar sister Flawlessly in his first try on grass, finishing sixth. Norfolk Stakes winner Supremo finished last as the 3-1 second choice.

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Desormeaux and trainer Bill Mott, in absentia, had better luck in the $200,000 Miesque Stakes later in the program.

Favored Bail Out Becky made it three consecutive victories on the turf with a 1 1/4-length decision over 3-1 second choice Miss Union Avenue in 1:37 1/5 for the mile.

“Our instructions to Kent?” said Cecil Seaman, the racing manager for Bail Out Becky’s owner Kenneth Ramsey, who saddled the filly in Mott’s absence. The trainer was in Japan with Paradise Creek for the Japan Cup. “Just win. I told him to lay off the pace and he rode a perfect race. She ran a tremendous race and she’s always had a good kick.”

Bail Out Becky paid $6.40 and earned $110,000 for Ramsey.

Makin Whoopee, who was extremely fractious before the start, finished third, a half-length behind Miss Union Avenue.

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Aube Indienne, who will try to give trainer Charlie Whittingham his fourth consecutive Matriarch victory and eighth overall, is the 5-2 favorite in the $400,000 Grade I race today.

Unbeaten in two starts since joining Whittingham’s barn, Aube Indienne won the Las Palmas and Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita and she won her only other start over the Hollywood Park turf course when trained by Rodney Rash.

Desormeaux has the mount on the 4-year-old filly, who drew the rail in the field of nine fillies and mares.

Exchange, who could go over $1 million in career earnings today, is the 3-1 second choice. Although the 6-year-old Explodent mare hasn’t run on the grass for about 18 months, she has seven victories in 11 starts on the surface. Laffit Pincay will ride.

The rest of the field includes Corrazona, disappointing in her last three races after winning her first three starts in this country; the Bobby Frankel-trained entry of Wandesta and Skimble, Zoonaqua, Fondly Remembered, a troubled second in the Yellow Ribbon; Las Meninas and Alywow, second to Raintrap in the Rothmans International.

In the other stakes on the card, Romarin, who was very impressive in his American debut, is the 8-5 favorite in the inaugural $150,000 Hollywood Mile on the grass.

The 3-1 second choice is Slew Of Damascus, who hasn’t run since finishing fourth in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August. The other four entrants are Inner City, Firm Pledge, Rapan Boy and Ventiquattrofogli.

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Wayne Lukas strengthened his hold on the money lead in the national standings, winning three 2-year-old stakes races in less than an hour. He won the Demoiselle and Remsen at Aqueduct with Minister Wife and Thunder Gulch, respectively, then took the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs with favored Lilly Capote. . . . Jambalaya Jazz won the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, beating You’re The One by a length in 1:46 2/5 for the 1 1/16 miles. Even-money favorite Peaks And Valleys was third and California shipper A.J. Jett, who is trained by Frank Olivares, was fifth in the field of seven. . . . Wekiva Springs, who will make his next start in the Vernon O. Underwood Breeders’ Cup on Saturday, worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 at Santa Anita.