O’Neill Seeks to Break Tie

Heading into the final two weeks of the Hollywood Park fall meet, Doug O’Neill and Bobby Frankel lead trainers with 10 victories apiece.

O’Neill, who has started 44 horses, will try to break the deadlock this afternoon. He has three horses going. Frankel, who has had 39 starters, does not have an entry on today’s card.

In the fifth, a $43,000 optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs, O’Neill will be represented by 7Flying Fugitive, the likely pacesetter and the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. Flying Fugitive has won two of six for owner David Lanzman and will be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela. In the sixth, a $12,500 claimer at 1 1/16 miles, O’Neill’s entrant is the veteran Manly Valentine. A winner of 11 of 67, the 7-year-old Woodman gelding beat $10,000 claimers last month. Three of Manly Valentine’s victories have come at Hollywood Park.

Then, in the eighth, a $32,000 maiden claimer for California breds at 1 1/16 miles, O’Neill will start Blue Seti. Claimed by O’Neill for $32,000 for a partnership on Oct. 17, Blue Seti will be trying for the sixth time to break his maiden. He will break from the rail and be ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr.

In his first race for O’Neill, Blue Seti finished fourth, but was only beaten a head and a nose for second.

Race of the day: The seventh at Hollywood Park, a wide-open turf event for older California breds.

Who’s hot: Eibar Coa. He’s second in the Calder jockey standings, winning about 26%.

Who’s not: Ryan Morris. The jockey started 2 for 66 at Golden Gate Fields.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Mega Gift in the sixth, using Passage To Ararat, Groom On The Run, Fantastic Groom and Onetrickphoney in the seventh, and Blue Seti, Toomuchtrouble and Kadesh N Shur in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/66. Money: Previous day/meet total: $15/$381.20. Total money bet: $442.