HOLLYWOOD PARK : Abaginone Sprints Into Contention

Those who were at Hollywood Park Saturday night may have gotten a look at the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner.

And, although Soviet Problem was impressive in her first race of the year in the Valkyr Handicap, the runner - up in the ’94 Sprint is not the thoroughbred in question.

Two races after Soviet Problem, a 5-year-old California-bred mare, won for the 15th time in 20 starts, Abaginone won for the fourth time in five races.

Owned by Ron Charles and Clear Valley Stables and trained by Sandy Shulman, the 4-year-old son of Devil’s Bag has been dominant in two sprints at Hollywood Park after having been on the sideline for almost 10 months.

In his comeback on May 13, Abaginone won by 10 lengths in 1:14 3/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. On Saturday, the Kentucky-bred met tougher opponents and rolled home five lengths ahead in 1:14 4/5.

Abaginone is likely to make his stakes debut in either the six-furlong Bing Crosby Handicap on July 30 or the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien Handicap on Aug. 19 at Del Mar. Options after that are the Vosburgh at Belmont Park on Sept. 16 or the Ancient Title at Santa Anita in early October, then the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Oct. 28.

Those are the tentative plans for Abaginone, but it is difficult to think too far ahead with a horse who has shin problems.

He had a stress fracture in his right front shin when bought by Charles and Clear Valley for $55,000 two years ago and has since undergone two operations.

Obviously, those problems haven’t slowed him down. He toyed with his foes in his first start of 1995 and he won his second with similar ease. He suffered his only defeat last July 30 at Del Mar and that was followed by the second surgery and the long layoff.

“He has the potential to be the best sprinter I’ve ever ridden,” said Gary Stevens, who has ridden the likes of Bedside Promise, On The Line and Sunny Blossom. “I definitely have never been on a horse who is as quick away from the gate as he is.

“I haven’t asked him for his best and I don’t know if I’m ever going to have to ask him for his best.

“He goes 21 2/5 [for the first quarter-mile] like most horses go 23. I’ve only asked him to run from the eighth pole home [in both of his races this year] and I think if I asked him from the three-eighths pole home, he would be even more devastating.”

Shulman, who ranks second behind Bobby Frankel in the Hollywood Park trainer standings through the first 41 days of the meeting, is gearing everything Abaginone does to getting him to New York on Oct. 28.

“That’s our goal,” he said. “I know it’s a cliche, but with this horse we really do take it one day at a time. He’s doing terrific right now. He’s doing the best he’s ever done.

“He feels so good and he’s so spirited that we have to watch that he doesn’t hurt himself in his stall. He really gives you chills when you watch him.”

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Horse Racing Notes

Slew Of Damascus, who will be making his first start since finishing second to Best Pal in the San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 12, is the 2-1 favorite in tonight’s feature, the $70,000 Bedside Promise at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The field also includes Cyrano Storme, Pembroke, Letthebighossroll, Cominalittlehot, In Case, Windover, Subtle Trouble and Andado. Three Peat was scratched Thursday morning.