Well-Rested Foes Favored

A couple of trainers good with layoff runners will square off with two comebackers in today’s third race at Hollywood Park.

Tracemark, who registered his biggest victory in the $150,000 California Derby on April 13 at Bay Meadows, and High Wire Act are among five scheduled to go 1 1/16 miles in the $58,000 allowance. The race is the first leg of a pick six with a carry-over of $77,376.

Owned by Ed McGrath, the father of Mark McGrath, the lead singer of the band Sugar Ray, and trained by Craig Dollase, Tracemark hasn’t run since finishing sixth in the Swaps Stakes on July 14.

Second in two Grade III races before that Swaps flop, Tracemark has trained well enough for his return and a wet track, a definite possibility given the weather forecast, shouldn’t bother him.

High Wire Act, a 6-year-old End Sweep gelding owned by Sid and Jenny Craig and trained by John Shirreffs, has run only 13 times, but he is a threat to lead this small field all the way. He has run well fresh before. In June 2000, he returned after more than 15 months and won a 6 1/2-furlong race over this track.

Race of the day: Some tough $10,000 claimers will get together in today’s fourth at Hollywood Park. The 6 1/2-furlong race attracted recent winners J. Cash, Armed ‘N Crafty, Valiant Vision and five others.

Who’s hot: Alfredo Marquez. The trainer has won with six of 12 starters at Hollywood Park.

Who’s not: Bernard Hughes. The Florida trainer is one for 110 in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using George Bailey and Liberty Run in the fifth, Another George, Champ’s Gold and Blushing Ciel in the sixth and Rapidough, Way To The Top and Devil’s Horn in the seventh.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/81. Money: Previous day/meet total: $2.80/$456.40. Total money bet: $544.