HOLLYWOOD PARK : Possibly Perfect Stakes Out Turf in Winning the Gamely Handicap

What Cigar is to the handicap division, Possibly Perfect is to the female turf class.

The 5-year-old Northern Baby mare continued her domination of the local turf runners with another easy victory in the $160,400 Gamely Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park, and there is no one in the East who looks up to challenging her.

Winning for the ninth time in 12 starts since coming to the United States more than two years ago, Possibly Perfect went right to the front under Kent Desormeaux and cantered home nearly two lengths in front of Lady Affirmed.

She completed the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46 4/5 and gave leading trainer Bobby Frankel his fifth stakes winner of the 30-day-old Hollywood Park meeting.

Making her first start for Charlie Whittingham after coming from New York, Lady Affirmed got up to beat 28-1 shot Don’t Read My Lips, the $16,000 claim who is now Grade I-placed, by a length.

“It’s a pleasure to train a mare like this,” Frankel said. “She’s very, very good. She’s as good a filly as I’ve had. Well, it’s either her or Toussaud.

“But the difference is that [Possibly Perfect] is a much easier horse to train and is an easier horse to ride. Toussaud had unbelievable ability, but she was a headache. With her, you couldn’t go to the lead too soon or she wouldn’t [train] in the morning.”

Desormeaux, who was disqualified on Sellwood Fern earlier in the day in a questionable decision, was happy to again be a passenger.

“She just did it so easily,” Desormeaux said. “What can I say? I’m just grateful to be on board because she’s a champion. She is by far the best grass mare in the country. There simply is no comparison.”

Don’t Read My Lips was definitely the surprise of the race. She chased the winner throughout and earned $22,500. Since being claimed on Feb. 20 by trainer Casey Maslonka for owners Gary Howard, Bruce Dunmore and Mike Shuman, the 4-year-old Turkoman filly has banked $81,700.

“We’re very, very pleased,” Maslonka said. “She leaves everything on the track when she runs and I think she did that today. There were a lot of nice mares behind us and it’s just a thrill to be part of it.”

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After beating the boys Sunday in the $72,400 Westchester Stakes at Hollywood Park, Distinguish Forum will go back to running against her own sex.

After the 2-year-old Shanekite filly upset 3-5 favorite Bridge Of Royalty, co-owner, trainer and breeder Jerry Dutton said he’ll wait for the Landaluce next month rather than go in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship.

Breaking from the outside post on a day when that was the place to be, the 2-1 second choice tracked the favorite, then took over in the final furlong and won by a length in 57 3/5 for the five furlongs.

Purchased by Sid Craig for $300,000 after a record-setting debut victory on May 4, Bridge Of Royalty finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Desert Native, part of a three-horse entry trained by Caesar Dominguez.

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Cat’s Cradle, who has won the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park and the Acorn at Belmont Park, will miss a date with Serena’s Song in Friday’s Mother Goose because of an injury.

“She wrenched an ankle and she’s coming home,” trainer David Hofmans said. “We’ll see how she’s doing and she’ll probably be back in training in no time. But it’s enough to make her miss the race.”

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Concern, who is scheduled to make his California debut in the $150,000 Californian next Sunday, could return in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 2 if he runs well in six days.

“If he runs real well and shows he can handle the track, we would consider the Gold Cup,” said trainer Dick Small, who hasn’t run a horse at Hollywood Park since Festive Mood was ninth in the 1977 Hollywood Gold Cup.

“If not, there’s the Suburban [on July 4 at Belmont Park]. “Spacing-wise, either race would be fine after the Californian.”

The other probables for the Californian are Best Pal, Blumin Affair, Tinners Way, Let’s Be Curious, Stoller and Tossofthecoin.

Cigar, who won his eighth consecutive race Saturday in the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, could also be a possibility for the Gold Cup.

The son of Palace Music began his career in California, and Hollywood Park is trying to get the nation’s best handicap horse out West. Owner Allen Paulson, a former member of Hollywood Park’s board, is a friend of R.D. Hubbard, Hollywood Park chairman and chief executive officer.

Horse Racing Notes

Possibly Perfect has now earned $836,673 for owners Bob and Geri Witt with nine victories in 15 lifetime starts. . . . Trainer Wesley Ward was fined $750 for a second offense of having a horse test for excess levels of bute. The horse in question was Sharp Words, who finished third in the fifth race on May 12. . . . Gary Stevens won four races Sunday and Corey Nakatani three.