Matriarch Winner in Line for an Eclipse

For several of the entrants in the $700,000 Matriarch today, more than the winner’s share of the purse is on the line in the main event of Hollywood Park’s Turf Festival.

In addition to $420,000, an Eclipse award as the nation’s top female turf performer could go to the winner of the Grade I, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles.

Should all the horses in the field of 12 run their best race, Timarida, the 5-2 choice on Russ Hudak’s morning line, is the one who would be left standing.

A winner of 10 of 15 and worse than third only once in her career, the 4-year-old Kalaglow filly was dominant the last time she came to the United States.

Facing 10 other fillies and mares in the Beverly D. on Aug. 24 at Arlington International, Timarida overcame some traffic trouble on the turn to win by 2 1/2 lengths. If that effort is repeated, the Matriarch is history.

Scratched from the Yellow Ribbon last month at Santa Anita when she came down with a fever, Timarida has returned to train well for John Oxx.

“We’re going to have to be awfully lucky to beat her,” said Bobby Frankel, who will saddle Eclipse contender Wandesta today.

Windsharp, who beat males in two Grade I races early in the year, is the 3-1 second choice and she would definitely deserve the Eclipse if she were to win today. She is making her second Matriarch start, having finished in a dead heat for fourth last year.

Those who also have Eclipse aspirations are Memories Of Silver, who has won four of five since being switched to the grass by trainer James Toner, Bail Out Becky and even Auriette, who has slumped recently but was brilliant in winning the Santa Barbara and Gamely Handicaps in the spring.

“People would think Timarida is the horse to beat in this race, but it’s not like she stands out over the field,” Toner said. “This is a very competitive field from top to bottom. Whoever wins this race will get the trip. With a big field like this, the trip is always a concern. You’ve got to be lucky.”

The trip will also play a big part in the race before the Matriarch, the $500,000 Hollywood Derby, which has drawn an even bigger field.

Fourteen 3-year-olds are scheduled to go 1 1/8 miles on the grass, with the Bill Mott-trained entry of Trail City and Le Triton established the lukewarm 3-1 choice.

Rainbow Blues, however, is the colt who could be favored at post time. Winner of the Del Mar Derby in his U.S. debut, he was much troubled in finishing third in the Volante on Oct. 20 at Santa Anita.

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When jockey Gary Stevens decided to ask 2-1 choice Gentlemen to start his engines in Saturday’s $300,000 Citation Handicap, the Grade II was history, as the 4-year-old from Argentina accelerated in the final furlong and drew off to beat Smooth Runner by 2 1/2 lengths in a swift 1:45 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

This was the third win in four U.S. starts for Gentlemen and he looks like another South American star for Richard Mandella, who also trains Siphon, Sandpit and Romarin.

Horse Racing Notes

Three days after arriving at Hollywood Park, Hello, a 2-year-old Irish bred, rallied through some adversity to get up and beat 16-1 shot Steel Ruhlr by a head to win the $250,000 Generous Stakes. . . .

The Hollywood Derby and Matriarch will be shown live on ESPN between 3-4 p.m. . . . Making his first start since finishing ninth in the Arlington Citation Challenge on July 13, Unbridled’s Song was second as the 2-5 favorite in an allowance race at Aqueduct. In his initial race for Nick Zito, who replaced Jim Ryerson as the colt’s trainer, Unbridled’s Song lost by 1 1/4 lengths to Pacific Fleet, who was ridden by Laffit Pincay. Afterward, owner Ernie Paragallo suggested Unbridled’s Song, who won the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial earlier this year, might be retired. “I would like to see him continue for another year,” Zito said. “It’s Ernie’s decision.” . . .

Gold Fever, an 11-1 shot, took advantage of a fast early pace to win the NYRA Mile by two lengths over Diligence at Aqueduct. Gold Fever, ridden by Mike Smith, scored in 1:34 4/5. Top Account was third. . . . Concerto won the $200,000 Brown and Williamson Kentucky Jockey Club over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs. Celtic Warrior was second and California invader Carmen’s Baby was third. . . . Favored Ajina won the $200,000 Demoiselle by seven lengths at Aqueduct.