27-1 Shot Is Winner in Inglewood ‘Cap

There was something predictable about the finish of the $100,000 Inglewood Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park.

For the fourth time in five starts this year, Bonapartiste was second, extending his losing streak to nine and giving him twice as many seconds (12) as wins (six) in his 34-race career.

The unexpected was provided by Montemiro. The longest shot in the field of eight at 27-1, the 6-year-old son of Kris became the latest to thwart Bonapartiste.

Given the waiting ride he prefers by jockey Victor Espinoza after battling for the early lead in the San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields in his first start of the year last month, Montemiro took command in the final sixteenth to win for the second time in five, well-spaced starts in this country after coming from Europe. He won by 1 1/4 lengths and ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:40 3/5.

Owned by Jed and Roberta Cohen’s Red Baron’s Barn and trained by Darrell Vienna, Montemiro has now won six of 25. The Inglewood was his first graded stakes victory.

“I really expected it at a race earlier in San Francisco and he got loose and ran off,” said Vienna. “Victor rode a perfect race today. You have to keep this horse covered up. He did an excellent job.

“He entered [the U.S.] with a little wear and tear on him. Sometimes, they’ll turn around when you run them. He was starting to head in the wrong direction, so we stopped with him.”

Bonapartiste finished a neck in front of 17-1 shot Takarian, then came Adcat, Chullo, who had to be vanned off the track after the race due to an apparent problem with his right front leg, 2-1 favorite Central Lobby, Foggy Day and Commitisize, who faded after setting the pace for six furlongs.

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Dark Moondancer, who a mile workout on turf in 1:36 1/5 between the fourth and fifth races on Sunday, was given top weight of 123 pounds for the $300,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap, which will be run a week from today.

Winner of both the San Luis Obispo and San Luis Rey Stakes during the Santa Anita meet, Dark Moondancer is the likely favorite for the 1 1/4-mile Whittingham. The other probables for the Grade I are the Frankel-trained duo of Boatman (113 pounds) and Senure (116), Single Empire (120), the beaten favorite in the San Juan Capistrano, White Heart (116), who, like Single Empire, is trained by Neil Drysdale, and Sardaukar (114).

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Jockey Emile Ramsammy, who has struggled in recent months, has decided to return to Canada and will begin riding at Woodbine next week.

Twice the leading rider in Canada, Ramsammy had only three winners from 39 mounts at Hollywood Park.

“I tried everything possible to make it work, but my business just didn’t pick up,” said Ramsammy. “I know a lot of people in Toronto and I’m optimistic that I will do well there. But I’d like to come back here to try again some day. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be back next fall.”