Megahertz Tries to Light It Up

Trainer Bobby Frankel ranks third on the all-time list behind the late Charlie Whittingham and Ron McAnally in stakes victories at Hollywood Park.

Counting the one he had at the current meet with Skipping in last month’s Jim Murray Memorial Handicap, Frankel, who became a member of the sport’s Hall of Fame in 1995, has 109 stakes victories in Inglewood. That leaves him one behind McAnally, but Whittingham is far ahead with 222.

One of the stakes that has eluded Frankel is the Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap, which will be run for the 51st time today.

Megahertz, a 3-year-old, English-bred filly Frankel trains for owner Michael Bello, could change that.

A winner once in eight starts in France, Megahertz has been perfect since coming to this country and joining the Frankel barn. She won three minor stakes at Santa Anita during the winter and spring--the Blue Norther on Jan. 9, the Some Sensation on March 15 and the Providencia on April 13.

The Honeymoon, which carries a purse of $200,000-added and is run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, will be Megahertz’s first venture into graded stakes company. The Grade II race lured seven others, among them La Martina, who finished a nose behind the likely favorite in the Providencia.

With Alex Solis in New York to ride Beat Hollow for Frankel in the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap, Patrick Valenzuela, Hollywood Park’s leading rider, will be aboard Megahertz for the first time.

McAnally, meanwhile, will be trying for a second consecutive victory in the Honeymoon after winning a year ago with Innit.

McAnally’s representative is longshot Alozaina, an Irish-bred filly who will be making her U.S. debut after winning one of five in France, at the Honeymoon distance. She will be ridden by Goncalino Almeida.

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Palmeiro, who was gelded earlier in the year, will try for his second consecutive victory in the $150,000 All American Handicap today at Bay Meadows.

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss and trained by John Sadler, the 4-year-old son of Pleasant Tap had won only two of his first 15 before winning an allowance race at Hollywood Park on May 8.

Jason Lumpkins, who is planning to ride at Del Mar this summer, will be atop Palmeiro. Prodigious, Boss Ego, Moonlight Meeting, Ironman Dehere, Last Parade, Proceed With Care, Out Of Mind and I’ve Decided complete the field in the 1 1/16-mile race.