Espinoza Stays at the Forefront

Although the stage and the stakes were a lot smaller and the margin of victory was a lot closer, jockey Victor Espinoza struck again with a front-running longshot in his return to California.

A day after his wire-to-wire shocker aboard War Emblem in the Kentucky Derby, the red-hot rider and Night Patrol, an 8-1 outsider, led all the way in winning the $109,700 Inglewood Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Trained by Nick Canani for owner-breeder Everest Stables, Night Patrol--a 6-year-old Storm Boot gelding--bravely held off 7-5 favorite Redattore by half a length to win in a rapid 1:39 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Fourth in last month’s Arcadia Handicap at Santa Anita after pressing a quick pace at nine furlongs, the fifth choice in the field of eight was able to coast from his inside post through a 24-second opening quarter and maintained an advantage of half a length over the runner-up the rest of the way.

This was the second victory in as many starts on the Hollywood Park turf for Night Patrol, who has won eight of 41 in his career.

“Just like Saturday, I definitely wanted to be on the lead,” said Espinoza, who, after the first two weeks of the Hollywood Park meet, leads the rider standings with 12 victories, four in stakes. “When I rode him last time, I think I waited a little too much.

“He was dragging me all the way around. I fought him too much trying to take him back. It was a little bit of a mistake. Today, I decided just to let him go. When he took the lead, he was very relaxed and really slowed it down. He finished pretty well.”

Making his first start since winning the San Antonio Handicap on the main track at Santa Anita on Feb. 3, Redattore finished two lengths in front of 3-1 second-choice Seinne, then came Sumitas, Gallant, Kerrygold and El Gran Papa.

Seinne, who had won the Arcadia at nearly 13-1 odds with a strong late run, was victimized by the lack of pace. He made up some ground in the final furlong but the first two were still running strong, covering the final sixteenth in six seconds.

“[Trainer] Ron McAnally wanted me back and they went too slow up front,” said Eddie Delahoussaye, the replacement rider on Seinne. “He came running, but the two in front of me kept going.”

Delahoussaye inherited the mount on Seinne because Chris McCarron, who had won the Arcadia with the 5-year-old, decided to stay in Kentucky for another day because of an ear infection.

McCarron had finished sixth with Came Home in the Derby a day after his upset victory aboard Farda Amiga in the Kentucky Oaks.

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After a successful 2002 debut in the $113,200 Beaugay Handicap at Aqueduct, Voodoo Dancer could be headed to California.

After the 4-year-old Kingmambo filly won the Grade III by nearly three lengths as the 11-10 favorite under jockey Jerry Bailey, trainer Christophe Clement said she could run in the $500,000 Gamely Breeders’ Cup Handicap on May 27.

Making her first start since finishing seventh as the 17-10 favorite in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Oct. 13 at Keeneland, Voodoo Dancer won for the seventh time in 11 tries on the final day of the Aqueduct meet. She ran the 11/16 miles on turf in 1:43 and has won each of her four races at the distance.