HOLLYWOOD PARK : Don’t Count Out Maslonka’s Filly in Gamely ‘Cap

Don’t Read My Lips has no chance to beat Possibly Perfect, Morgana and Aube Indienne in the $150,000 Gamely Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

The 4-year-old Turkoman filly also appeared to have no chance when she made her first start for trainer Casey Maslonka after being claimed for $16,000 on Feb. 20. Don’t Read My Lips rallied from off the pace and won the low-level allowance race at 7-1, the longest price in the field of five.

She had even less chance when meeting eight opponents in a turf allowance on May 4 at Hollywood Park. Taking advantage of a good trip and ride by Fernando Valenzuela in the 1 3/16 mile race, Don’t Read My Lips held off Mille Nuits by a head and returned $108.

Of course, winning those two races is one thing, but defeating Possibly Perfect, probably the nation’s finest female turf horse, in a Grade I stakes is another matter. She is 30-1 on the morning line and there’s no question she’ll be the longest shot in the field at post time.

The youngest trainer on the local circuit at 21, Maslonka isn’t expecting a miracle but says he owes owners Gary Howard, who happens to be his father, Bruce Dunmore and Mike Shuman the chance to try their bargain claim against the best females.

“I know it’s an almost insurmountable task, but these owners have been with me from the start and I think they deserve the opportunity.

“Basically, the entire game plan was for her to get some black type [stakes placed]. This isn’t the obvious spot to do, but there’s really nowhere else to run in the next month and this mare is best when she has 30 days maximum between races.”

No matter what happens today, Don’t Read My Lips has already exceeded Maslonka’s expectations. In three starts for her new connections, she has the two upset victories and a third-place finish and has earned $59,200.

“[The owners] like to claim well-bred fillies because they have residual value as a broodmare,” he said. “This filly has an outstanding pedigree and even if she couldn’t run another race [after being claimed] she was worth at least $35,000. Off of her pedigree, it was a sound investment.

“I didn’t know anything about her and I said I’d train her for a few weeks, and if things didn’t go well, they could go ahead and breed her this year.”

What Maslonka found was that Don’t Read My Lips was her worst enemy. She was high-strung, having flipped over in the starting gate a couple of starts before being claimed, and needed to settle down.

“She’s a completely different horse now,” he said. “There’s been a 180-degree turnaround. It’s taken a lot of time, but it’s been well worth it. She’s to the point now where I want her.

“Getting her to settle has definitely been the key. She’s got a lot of ability and she leaves everything she has on the track every time she runs.”

Maslonka has been a trainer for nearly two years. Before that, he worked at his father’s Hideaway Farms in San Jacinto.

“The first time I went to the races as a kid, I saw the trainers and I just knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he said. “[Working at Hideaway] I learned about every aspect of the game and I got my trainer’s license when I was 19.”

After beginning with a handful of horses two years ago, Maslonka’s stable has grown to 14 and he is hoping for more.

“Fourteen are definitely keeping me busy, but any trainer would like to expand,” he said. “You’re always looking for more horses. By the fall, I’d like to get up to 20.”

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Three weeks after a successful American debut in the Will Rogers Breeders’ Cup Handicap, 6-5 favorite Via Lombardia won the $110,400 Cinema Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Closer to the pace than he was in the Will Rogers, where the early fractions were quicker, the 3-year-old Shardari colt drew clear into the stretch, then withstood a challenge from 15-1 shot Bryntirion to win by a half-length in 1:47 1/5 for the 1 1/8 miles. Via Lombardia had to survive a stewards’ inquiry involving an incident on the far turn, but no change was made in the order of finish.

It was the second major stakes win in five days for owner Henry Pabst and his third at the meeting. Besides Via Lombardia’s two victories, Pabst also won the $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap on Monday with 24-1 shot Earl Of Barking.

Making his first start in this country for trainer Bobby Frankel, Bryntirion finished 5 1/2 lengths in front of 48-1 shot Oncefortheroad. Fine N’Majestic, the California Derby winner, finished seventh as the 9-2 third choice.

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Horse Racing Notes

Concern, who won the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Classic and most recently was third behind Cigar and Devil His Due in the Pimlico Special, will ship to Hollywood Park on Saturday and run in the $150,000 Californian a week from today. Under the allowance conditions of the race, Concern will carry 122 pounds. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover for today of $161,574. . . . Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who hasn’t ridden since May 21, met with the Hollywood Park stewards Saturday morning and has been cleared to ride, meaning he could accept mounts today for Wednesday’s card. . . . Possibly Perfect, who is unbeaten in three starts on the Hollywood Park grass course, is the 3-5 favorite in the Gamely.