Script Change for Grey Memo

A return to Hollywood Park, the removal of blinkers and a fast pace in front of him was all Grey Memo needed in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Winless in five tries at the recently concluded Santa Anita meet, Grey Memo rallied from far back to overhaul 17-10 favorite Hugh Hefner in the main event of Hollywood Park’s inaugural California Gold Rush.

Grey Memo, trained by Warren Stute for a partnership that includes Ron Manzani, Russ Sarno and Ridgeley Farm, won for the fourth time in 10 starts and for the first time since a 5-1 upset in the Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup last Nov. 20. Grey Memo, the third choice in the 12-horse Snow Chief field at 6-1, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 1/5, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Matt Garcia, who has been the jockey in each of Grey Memo’s victories, was back aboard the 3-year-old son of Memo after a two-race absence.

“At the quarter-pole, I knew I had a lot of horse,” Garcia said. “I was watching [Hugh Hefner] in front of me the whole time and I knew it was not going to be a problem.”

Hugh Hefner deserved a better fate after battling through fast fractions of 22 1/5, 45 3/5 and 1:10 3/5. He drew away to lead by three lengths with a furlong to run, but weakened late. He did finish 3 1/2 lengths clear of 20-1 shot Ceeband, who rallied along the rail under Eddie Delahoussaye.

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Here’s To You, the 6-5 favorite in the $175,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes, was the most impressive winner of the afternoon.

Here’s To You, trained by Pat Gallagher for owner Ross Gilbert, rolled to a 4 1/2-length victory over Ta Ta Be True in 1:39 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf.

It was the fourth win in 11 starts for Here’s To You, who was ridden by Chris McCarron, and her second in as many races over the Hollywood Park turf course. She won the Miesque as a 2-year-old in the fall of 1998.

McCarron had another victory aboard 11-10 favorite Spinelessjellyfish in the $175,000 Khaled Stakes.

Spinelessjellyfish used a late surge to beat Road To Slew by a neck in 1:39 2/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on grassturf. Spinelessjellyfish, trained by Jenine Sahadi, won for the seventh time in 12 starts for a partnership that includes Bart Heller and Fred Sahadi’s Cardiff Stud Farm.

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Wired To Fly, a 30-1 shot ridden by Joe Bravo, pulled the biggest surprise of the day, winning the $150,000 Melair Stakes by a nose over 3-10 favorite Cover Gal.

Wired To Fly, no better than third in her four previous, well-spaced starts, obviously welcomed a return to Hollywood Park. Before being sold privately last summer, she won the first two starts of her career at Hollywood Park, including the Nursery Stakes.

“We gave some thought to running her in an allowance race on the turf [Friday], but these races for $150,000 don’t come up very often,” said Joe Devereux, who took over the training of Wired To Fly earlier this year for owners Joe Sweedler and Ed Wachtel. “The last time she worked, she sat behind two horses and finished very strongly. That gave us some hope for today.”

Cover Gal, who was the odds-on choice for the sixth consecutive race after winning her debut at 22-1 last summer at Del Mar, finished nine lengths clear of Wingless Flight, who rallied for third at nearly 53-1.

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In other Gold Rush races, a couple of California-breds remained unbeaten and a three-horse entry was dominant.

La Feminn, the 9-10 choice, won for the fourth time in as many races , beating Theresa’s Tizzy and six others in the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes. La Feminn, making her first start for Diamond A Racing Corporation after being purchased from Hal Oliver, completed the seven furlongs under Alex Solis in 1:21 4/5. She is trained by Richard Mandella.

Matriculate, a 3-5 favorite, won the $70,000 Harris Farms Stakes, her second victory in as many races for the 505 Farms of the late Marshall Naify and trainer John Shirreffsin as many races. Mike Smith rode the gelded son of Bertrando

Owner John Harris’ three-horse entry in the $70,000 Lakeview Thoroughbred Stakes finished 1-2-4 with Rebuild Trust easily defeating Lucky C.H. by seven lengths. Rebuild Trust is trained by Craig Lewis and ridden by Garrett Gomez.

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In other races at Hollywood Park:

* Dexter Drive, who was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Peter Levine for owner Jerry Pace, earned his biggest win for the connections in the $100,000 Quicken Tree Stakes. Dexter Drive, a 5-year-old Hermes gelding who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux, has won four of 11 races since being claimed.

* Guiding Force, who had been scratched out of a $32,000 maiden claiming race Saturday, won the $60,000 Merial at 6-1 odds under jockey Jorge Chavez and continued a hot start to the Hollywood Park meet for trainer John Sadler. In the first three days, Sadler has four victories. Inexcess Express, the odds-on choice in the race, finished fourth