Frankel Takes Aim at Bonapartiste With Central Lobby

Three weeks ago, Bonapartiste’s losing streak continued when the Bobby Frankel-trained Senure, who was making his U.S. stakes debut, won the Fastness Handicap at Hollywood Park.

This afternoon, Frankel will try to knock off Bonapartiste again with another horse in his stakes race in this country.

Central Lobby, who has won three in a row after losing his first nine in America, is the 7-2 third choice in today’s $100,000-added Inglewood Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Chullo, winless in two American starts after winning six of eight in Argentina, is the 2-1 favorite in the Grade III while Bonapartiste, who has lost eight in a row since winning the 1999 Fastness, is the 5-2 second choice.

Bonapartiste has been the beaten favorite in three of those defeats. Ron McAnally, the trainer of Bonapartiste, will be going for his second consecutive Inglewood victory. The now-retired Brave Act won last year.

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For the second time in her career, Abby Girl has won consecutive races after her victory by a nose over favored Cover Gal in the $150,000 Railbird Stakes Saturday at Hollywood Park.

A winner in the first two races of her career as a 2-year-old, Abby Girl--the 8-5 second choice Saturday--has won both of races in 2000 after rallying along the rail under jockey Corey Nakatani to win in 1:22 2/5 for the seven furlongs.

“The only thing that bothered me was that we drew the rail,” said Craig Dollase, the trainer of Abby Girl. “That worried me a little bit. But Corey rode her perfectly and he got her there. She tries all the way to the wire and that’s what I love about her.”

Cover Gal, the 7-5 choice, lost by a nose for a second time in a row, but did finish two lengths ahead of Wired To Fly, who edged her in last month’s Melair Stakes. Classic Olympio and Miss Pixie completed the order of finish.

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Beautiful Pleasure had what essentially was a money-earning workout Saturday, winning the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park as the 1-5 favorite.

Rebounding after losing at 4-5 in her first start of the year in last month’s Apple Blossom, Beautiful Pleasure--the Eclipse champion and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner in 1999--took the lead shortly after the start and was never threatened.

Beautiful Pleasure, got her eighth victory in 16 races, beating Biogio’s Rose and three others by nearly seven lengths under jockey Jorge Chavez in 1:35 3/5 for the mile over a sloppy track.

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For the second time in six days, trainer Ron McAnally won with a horse formerly handled by Bob Baffert. A week ago today, Tout Charmant won her debut for McAnally in the Wilshire Handicap, and on Saturday, Cavonnier--winless since Dec. 27, 1998, won at odds of nearly 15-1 in a $62,000 allowance race on turf at Hollywood Park. It was the eighth win in 22 races for Cavonnier, who is best known for winning the 1996 Santa Anita Derby and losing the Kentucky Derby by a nose to Grindstone. . . . Golden Ballet, who went off at 9-1 odds as part of an entry, picked the right time to break her maiden for part owner and trainer Jerry Dutton. Beaten in her three previous starts, the 2-year-old outbattled 6-1 longshot Shine Up Ciel to win the $92,775 Nursery Stakes at Hollywood Park. Golden Ballet completed the 4 1/2 furlongs in 51 seconds, equaling the stakes record, under jockey Eddie Delahoussaye. This victory came two races after Box Of Jewels, Golden Ballet’s half-sister, had won a $10,000 claiming race as the even-money choice. . . . Beginning on Saturday and continuing through the remainder of the Churchill Downs meet that ends July 9, the Churchill Downs simulcast network will offer a new Pick 3 wager. Every Saturday and Sunday, the bet will include the 10th race from Churchill Downs, Calder’s 12th race and the fourth from Hollywood Park.