Abrams’ List Grows

Through the years, trainer Barry Abrams has had a lot of success with horses he has claimed.

Famous Digger, Bengal Bay and Slew’s Royal Son are names that immediately come to mind, and he looks to have hit the jackpot again with Misanello.

While Misanello may never match the feats of the three mentioned above, the 5-year-old son of Memo is certainly off to a good start for Abrams, who claimed the gelding for $25,000 for a partnership Oct. 21.

The Chilean-bred won that day in his final race for trainer Richard Mandella and has followed with two more victories for his new connections. He won wire-to-wire at Hollywood Park on Nov. 9 against only four rivals in a low-level allowance race, then used similar tactics to beat $50,000 claimers a week later.

This afternoon, Misanello will try for a fourth consecutive win--and his seventh in 13 lifetime starts--against five rivals in the seventh race, a 61/2-furlong optional claimer. Misanello and Way To The Top are the only members of the field being offered for the $62,500 claming price.

Trainer Eduardo Inda entered two in the sprint, longshot Black Silk and Chumaree, who came off more than 14 months of down time to win an optional claimer at Bay Meadows in October for his second win in three starts. Completing the lineup are Very Caerleon and Donato’s Run, who had a two-race victory streak stopped when he finished third Nov. 10.

Race of the day: There are some larger-than-average fields for a weekday card and the fifth and sixth are good betting races. Eight are scheduled to go in the fifth, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, and the sixth is a 11/16-mile affair on the main track that attracted nine veterans running for a $32,000 tag.

Who’s hot: Chris McCarron. The jockey became Hollywood Park’s all-time leader in stakes victories Saturday and won three other races besides the Golden Ballet and Waya. He has won with 13 of 42 mounts at the meet.

Who’s not: The field in today’s fifth at Aqueduct. The 11 original entrants in the race for 2-year-old maiden fillies bred in New York are a combined 0 for 24 and have managed only three on-the-board finishes among them.

Exotically speaking: A trifecta in the eighth using Julies Flying Now on top, Pretty As Ashley, Babbler and Paster’s Dutchess in the second spot and all in the third spot.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/58. Money (previous day/meet total): $12/$313.60. Total money bet: $432.