Rare Outing for Kona Gold

One of the best sprinters in the country for a number of years, Kona Gold hasn’t done much work at Hollywood Park.

In fact, he has run only once before in Inglewood, finishing second in his career debut on May 31, 1998.

The seven-length winner of the race was Regal Thunder, who went on to become a stakes winner for trainer Julio Canani.

More than four years later, Kona Gold returns to Hollywood Park and he will be the favorite as he makes his first start of 2002 in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap.

A Grade III at six furlongs, the Los Angeles is the fifth leg of a pick six that has a carryover of $166,639.73.

Trained by Bruce Headley for a partnership that includes himself and Andrew and Irwin Molasky, Kona Gold, the 125-pound highweight, has trained well at Santa Anita for his first race since he was fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial on Nov. 17 at Laurel.

A winner of 12 of 23 in his career and with more than $2 million in earnings, Kona Gold has often run well fresh, and he has won seven of 15 at the Los Angeles distance.

The second choice could be No Armistice, a lightly raced son of Unbridled who has had success at Hollywood Park.

Owned by Bradley Hughes and trained by Ron Ellis, No Armistice has won two of three locally and was second in his lone loss.

In his first start in almost a year, the 5-year-old won an allowance race by seven lengths at Keeneland on April 17.

Kent Desormeaux will ride.

Radiata, Hombre Rapido, Rapidough and Komax round out the field for the Los Angeles, which was won a year ago by Caller One.

Race of the day: Global Finance will try for her second stakes win of the meet for co-owner and trainer Jerry Dutton in the $75,000 Cinderella Stakes, the fifth on the Hollywood Park card.

Who’s hot: Bluesthestandard and Fit For A King.

The veteran geldings, ages 5 and 9, respectively, won again on Friday night and are a combined 23 for 40.

Who’s not: Howard Belvoir. The trainer lost with his first 36 starters at Bay Meadows.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Fin Entertainment, Dixie Thrill and Moving’s Gold in the fourth, Little Bit A Swiss, Global Finance and Ela Ela in the fifth and singling Fair Bianca in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/81. Money: Previous day/meet total: $17.80/$459.60. Total money bet: $500.