It’s Marlin vs. Mandella for the Gold

Half of the trainers who will have starters in the $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup on Sunday at Hollywood Park were on hand for the post position draw Thursday morning.

In others words, Richard Mandella was there and Wayne Lukas, who is in the East, was not.

The 58th Gold Cup will have only six horses, and five of them are trained by Mandella, whose horses ran 1-2-3 in the Santa Anita Handicap almost four months ago. Marlin, who was fourth in the Big ‘Cap and is trained by Lukas for owner Michael Tabor, is the other entrant.

Looking to become the only repeat winner of the Gold Cup other than Native Diver, who won the race three consecutive years (1965-67), Siphon drew Post 2 and was established the 6-5 favorite by Russ Hudak, Hollywood Park’s morning-line maker.

Gentlemen drew right outside Siphon, which means he should be staying just off the favorite early, a trip similar to the one he had when winning the Pimlico Special last month.

Gary Stevens, who will be looking for his third Gold Cup victory, will be aboard Gentlemen, who will race coupled with Talloires because R.D. Hubbard, Hollywood Park chief executive officer, has ownership in both horses. The entry is the 7-5 second choice.

Next is Marlin, who has only one victory on the main track, at 4-1. Then comes Sandpit, who finished last in the Hollywood Turf Handicap on May 26 in his last appearance, at 8-1, and Region is 15-1.

Horse Racing Notes

Also on Sunday’s card, 11 were entered in the $250,000 Triple Bend Breeders’ Cup Handicap at seven furlongs, and Northern Afleet, who landed on the rail, was made the 5-2 favorite. Windsharp is one of six fillies and mares set for the $300,000 Beverly Hills Handicap at 1 1/4 furlongs on turf, and she was established as the 8-5 choice. . . . The $500,000 Swaps Stakes has been moved from July 13 to July 20, and Hollywood Park is trying to line up sponsorship to increase the purse of the race and entice Touch Gold and Free House, the first and third finishers, respectively, in the Belmont Stakes. . . . Jockey Corey Nakatani escaped injury when involved in a spill in Thursday’s seventh race. Trying to come through along the rail, Nakatani and Beau Genius were apparently bothered by longshot Biddy Biddy and went through the temporary rail. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover of $273,209.89.