A Hollywood Opening

Hollywood Park opens its 65-day spring-summer meet with the $75,000 Harry Henson Stakes, named in honor of the late track announcer. Contested at 51/2 furlongs on the turf, the Henson has a field of 10, including 121-pound highweight Red Briar.

It is not the best race on the card, however. That distinction belongs to the seventh, a $62,000 allowance at a mile on the turf.

Although it may not be labeled a stakes, the seventh boasts plenty of quality.

Among the nine scheduled to run are four graded or group stakes winners--Nicobar, Ladies Din, Startac and Marine. Add Thady Quill, National Anthem and the speedy Apache Wings and it is a classier group than the one that lined up in the San Juan Capistrano, a Grade I, on Santa Anita’s final day.

Ladies Din is the richest member of the field, having earned $1,678,304 in a career that has seen him win 10 of 33, nearly all for trainer Julio Canani and owners Terry Lanni and Bernie Schiappa.

Startac, a stablemate of the brilliant mare Astra, will be making his first start of 2002 for trainer Laura De Seroux. Idle since finishing ninth in the Hollywood Derby on Nov. 25, the Theatrical colt’s biggest claim to fame was a nose win at 11-1 in the Secretariat, a Grade I, last summer at Arlington Park. That victory--and three others--all came with former trainer Simon Bray.

The field is completed by longshots Last Parade, who is winless in six races on the turf, and Hook Call, whose last victory came Feb. 25, 2000, at Santa Anita.

Who’s hot: Jason Lumpkins. The jockey won six races at Bay Meadows on Sunday and is second in the standings to perennial leader Russell Baze.

Who’s not: Patrick Kelly. The New York-based trainer is three for 73 in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling The Price Spirit in the third, using Splendid Nature, Cat In The Country and the entry of Treacherous Zone-Two Thirty Seven in the fourth and Red Briar, Line Rider and From A To Z in the fifth.

Winners: Final from Santa Anita: Previous day/meet total: 3/233. Money: Previous day/meet total: $20.40/$1,353. Total money bet: $1,468.