Mandella Elects to Keep Siphon on the Sideboard

Missing the final prep for the $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup didn’t bother Siphon last year and trainer Richard Mandella hopes the same holds true for 1997.

A bruised foot kept the South American-bred star out of the $250,000 Californian 12 months ago and the same problem--or, possibly, muscle soreness--will keep him out when the stake is run for the 44th time Sunday.

Mandella decided not to enter Siphon, who would have been an overwhelming favorite in the Californian, after watching the horse gallop Friday morning.

“I don’t know if it’s a bruised foot or muscle soreness, but I wasn’t happy with the way he was galloping,” said Mandella. “He didn’t look right to me, so we’re not going to run him here.

“We’ll just point him to the Gold Cup [June 29] and take some more time with him. We’ve looked him over and couldn’t see anything really wrong with him.

“I don’t think we have anything serious to worry about, but we weren’t going to run in the Californian unless he was absolutely perfect. He showed us that something just wasn’t right.”

Arguably the top handicap horse in the nation, based on his victory in the Santa Anita Handicap in March and a second-place finish, after a slow start, in the Dubai World Cup a few weeks later, Siphon is the defending Gold Cup champion.

Now, if he is to win the Grade I race again, he will have to do so after a three-month layoff because he hasn’t raced since chasing Singspiel home in Dubai.

With Siphon in the Californian, only three others were expected to start. But his absence has increased the field to six.

Benchmark, Hesabull and River Keen were always considered likely, but those who decided to enter when Siphon did not are Don’t Blame Rio, March Of Kings and Region, who also is trained by Mandella.

A gutsy winner of the Mervyn LeRoy on May 3, Hesabull will probably be favored in the 1 1/8-mile race, which was downgraded to Grade II this year.

Trained by Mike Chambers for Ron and Judy Judy’s Three Sisters Stable, the 4-year-old Dispersal colt was in front every step of the way in the LeRoy, but looked beaten at the head on the lane when the field of five came together.

However, he won by half a length and Gary Stevens, who was busy riding Silver Charm to victory in the Kentucky Derby that day, will be back aboard Sunday. Stevens had ridden Hesabull in his previous start, a second-place finish behind longshot First Intent in the Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

Like the probable favorite, who has won three of five at Hollywood Park, Region is also fond of the track, having won three of six and never finishing worse than third over the surface.

Region, an 8-year-old with only 33 starts, was second to Hesabull in the LeRoy, then was the beaten favorite in the All American Handicap at Golden Gate Fields a week ago.

Laffit Pincay will be back aboard the Devil’s Bag gelding. That combination won three in succession last year.

A disappointing fourth in the LeRoy after winning his first two starts of the year, Benchmark will have Chris McCarron back today after Rene Douglas rode him on May 3. McCarron has won the last three times he’s been on the 6-year-old son of Alydar, including a victory in the San Bernardino Handicap nearly two months ago at Santa Anita.

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Unlike the Californian, the $200,000 Gamely is still a Grade I and it will be run for the 31st time Sunday. It will go as the fifth race on the card. The Californian is the ninth.

Topping the field of eight fillies and mares who will go 1 1/8 miles on the turf are Different and Donna Viola.

Third in the Apple Blossom Handicap on April 11 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., in her only start of 1997, Different hasn’t run on the turf since she won the Beverly Hills Handicap here more than 11 months ago. She has trained steadily for Ron McAnally. McCarron, who was aboard for all four of her victories--in five starts in ‘96--will ride her again Sunday.

After finishing third to Windsharp in the Santa Ana Handicap in what was the first start of the year for both, Donna Viola turned the tables in the Santa Barbara Handicap, beating Fanjica by a head in a 1-2 finish for trainer Ben Cecil.

This will be the first try on the Hollywood Park turf for Donna Viola, who has won two of her three races in this country after winning eight times overseas.

“She won that last race fairly easily and came out of it in good shape,” said Cecil. “She really seems to have improved since then. I’m expecting her to run very well.”

The Gamely field, from the rail out, also includes Real Connection, Blushing Heiress, De Puntillas, Wheatly Special, Logia and True Flare. True Flare, who hasn’t run since Dec. 1, is trained by Bobby Frankel, who has won the Gamely three of the last four years and four of the last six.

Horse Racing Notes

Skip Away, winless in his first four starts of the year, will be favored to win for the first time since he beat Cigar in the Jockey Club Gold last October at Belmont Park when he races five rivals in the $300,000 Massachusetts Handicap today at Suffolk Downs in East Boston. Opposing him in the 1 1/8-mile race, which was won the previous two years by Cigar, are Prolanzier, Topsy Robsy, Will’s Way, Geri and Formal Gold. The Massachusetts Handicap will be simulcast at Hollywood Park about 2:10 p.m. . . . Gary Stevens will be aboard Sharp Cat for the first time when she tries to end a two-race losing streak in the $150,000 Acorn today at Belmont Park. Six others--Dixie Flag, Ajina, Screamer, Storm Song, Make Haste and Witchful Thinking--are scheduled to go in the one-mile race.

Brave Act and P.T. Indy, who ran 1-2 in the recent Will Rogers Handicap, head the field for today’s local feature, the $100,000 Cinema Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.