Worldly Ways Reels Off a Win

Worldly Ways left little doubt about which 3-year-old was best in the $110,300 Cinema Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Next to last early behind the crawling pace on the turf course, Worldly Ways began to pass horses while wide on the backside under Corey Nakatani, got up close to the lead around the turn, collared Batoile early in the stretch and went on to win.

At the end, the 7-1 shot had a length on P.T. Indy, who was a half-length in front of Brave Act, the 11-10 favorite who won the Will Rogers Handicap for 3-year-olds on the Hollywood Park turf course three weeks ago. Worldly Ways ran the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48 2/5.

Trained by Wally Dollase and owned by John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm, Worldly Ways has only lost once in four starts--that being a troubled third-place finish in the La Puente Stakes on April 13 at Santa Anita. He was defeated by less than two lengths by Wild Rush, who returned to win the Illinois Derby and is scheduled to run in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

“I think [Worldly Ways] is special,” Dollase said. “His action is what separates him. He’s got such a great stride. I put blinkers on him today because he’s a very intelligent horse and looks at everything. With racing, I might be able to take them off.”

Horse Racing Notes

Skip Away picked up his first victory of the year in his fifth start, but it didn’t come easy for the 4-year-old in the $620,000 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs. Trainer Sonny Hine’s gray colt prevailed after a stretch-long battle with Formal Gold to win by a head under Shane Sellers in 1:47 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles. . . . Sharp Cat, ridden for the first time by Gary Stevens, rebounded from losses in the Kentucky Oaks and Santa Anita Derby with a 2 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Acorn at Belmont Park. Sharp Cat, the 1-1 favorite against six other 3-year-old fillies, led throughout and completed the mile in 1:34 2/5. “I felt that she would run real big,” said trainer Wayne Lukas. “We’ve always had luck like that. Serena’s Song was 17th in the [1995] Kentucky Derby, but came back [less than two weeks later] to win the Black-Eyed Susan. I like turning them back in situations like that. It seems it works better.” Dixie Flag, the 2-1 second choice, finished second almost five lengths clear of 23-1 shot Ajina. Last was Storm Song, the 2-year-old filly champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner in 1996 who has yet to come close to that form this year for trainer Nick Zito. . . . Different is the 2-1 favorite in the $200,000 Gamely Handicap, one of two graded races on today’s card at Hollywood Park. Hesabull is the 8-5 morning line choice in the $250,000 Californian. . . . Siphon, who would have been heavily favored in the Californian had he run, galloped Saturday morning and was said to be improved over the day before. Trainer Richard Mandella decided not to enter the Santa Anita Handicap winner in today’s race when he didn’t like the way the Brazilian-bred galloped Friday morning. . . . Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in Covina for veteran trainer Bill Chasteen, 77, who died last Monday after a lengthy illness.