Rash, Van Berg Horses Work Out for Gold Cup

Two of the probable starters for the Hollywood Gold Cup worked Thursday morning at Hollywood Park.

Urgent Request, who was unplaced in the Oaklawn Handicap in his only start since his upset victory in the Santa Anita Handicap, went 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 for trainer Rodney Rash. Blumin Affair, who has yet to win a race around two turns, went a mile in 1:37 for trainer Jack Van Berg.

Ten horses were nominated for the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup, which will carry a $1-million purse if Cigar and Concern both run. If only one or neither one of them goes, the purse will be $750,000.

Of those nominees, nine are expected to start on July 2. Besides the four already mentioned, the others are Best Pal, who won the 1993 Gold Cup; Del Mar Dennis, Let’s Be Curious, Tinners Way and Tossofthecoin.