Oberwald’s Win Looks Familiar

On a warm Father’s Day afternoon at Hollywood Park, Oberwald followed in his daddy’s footsteps.

Six years after his sire, Swiss Yodeler, won the Haggin Stakes, Oberwald did likewise Sunday for the same owner and trainer combination of Heinz Steinmann and Mike Harrington.

The 3-1 second choice, who raced coupled with last-place finisher Luzern, started to edge clear after three furlongs and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 14-1 shot Royal Place.

The win was the second in three starts for Oberwald, a California-bred out of the Cahill Road mare Magic Rhythm. He completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05 under jockey Victor Espinoza.

Bred by Marvin Malmuth, the colt will try to imitate his sire again when he returns in the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 20. Swiss Yodeler won that race in 1996 and later that year stretched out to 1 1/16 miles and won the Hollywood Futurity.

“I had never seen this horse before today,” Espinoza said. “But when I saw him in the paddock, he looked nice and calm. He looked better than any other horse in the race.”

The obvious disappointment in the Haggin was 3-10 favorite Crowned Dancer. He finished third three weeks after his powerful victory in the Willard Proctor Memorial.

“I don’t know why, but he was just very flat today,” said Alex Solis, who stayed with Crowned Dancer after riding Oberwald in his first two starts. “He was not himself. I had to ride him the whole way just to hold my position. He was just a different horse today.”

Royal Place, who had finished eight lengths behind Crowned Dancer in the Proctor, was second despite encountering trouble entering the stretch. He finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of the favorite.

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Azeri, the best female main-track runner in the country, will carry the highest weight of her short career in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Owned by the family of the late Allen Paulson and trained by Laura De Seroux, the 4-year-old Jade Hunter filly was assigned 125 pounds for the Vanity, a Grade I at 1 1/8 miles.

If Azeri wins for the seventh time in her eighth start, it would give her four consecutive Grade I victories and a stranglehold on the division championship. She is picking up three pounds off her 3 1/2-length win in the Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap over this track May 25.

Previously, Azeri, who began her career with a six-length win at 17-1 on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, had won the Santa Margarita in Arcadia and the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

A winner in both of her races at Hollywood Park, Azeri won’t have many opponents. The only other probables are Affluent, Ask Me No Secrets, Collect Call, Terna, and, possibly, Starrer.

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Came Home, who could be the last mount in jockey Chris McCarron’s brilliant career, was given top weight of 124 pounds for Sunday’s $100,000 Affirmed Handicap.

McCarron, who announced his retirement over the weekend, said Sunday will be the last day he’ll ride, and he will take his regular place aboard Came Home.

The 3-year-old Gone West colt will be making his first start since he finished sixth, beaten 10 1/4 lengths, by War Emblem in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

Perfect in the first two starts of his life at Hollywood Park as a 2-year-old, Came Home will appreciate the shorter distance (1 1/16 miles) of the Affirmed. The Grade III race is a prep for the $500,000 Swaps Stakes on July 14.

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Flying Dash, who won the Hawthorne Derby on May 11, has been disqualified and the purse money will be redistributed after the 3-year-old tested positive for two drugs (clenbuterol and promazine) that, in Illinois, are not permitted in a horse’s system at any level on race day.

Neil Drysdale, Flying Dash’s trainer, was given a 45-day suspension and a $2,500 fine. The penalties have been stayed, pending appeal.