Dutton Enjoys Strong Meet

In the first four weeks of the Hollywood Park meet, trainer Jerry Dutton has nearly doubled his victory total for the first four months of 2002.

Dutton’s 44 starters won four races before the start of the season in Inglewood, but his horses have posted seven victories at Hollywood Park and he leads the standings.

Unable to win with any of his four runners on Thursday, after winning twice Wednesday, Dutton has two opportunities to get back into the circle tonight at Hollywood Park.

In the second, a $60,000 allowance at 51/2 furlongs on the turf, he will be represented by Always Game and in the sixth, a $32,000 maiden claimer for California-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs, he will run longshot Shescominundone.

Owned by a partnership that includes Dutton and wife Barbara, Always Game already has a win at the meet. He won by two lengths at the same distance April 27, but will have to improve to handle likely favorite Astonished.

Astonished, a 6-year-old gelded son of the English sire Weldnaas, owned by Ron Charles and the Clear Valley Stable, lost by a head to Malabar Gold in the San Simeon Handicap on April 21, the final day of the Santa Anita meet. A repeat of that effort would make him very hard to handle tonight.

Shescominundone, a gray daughter of Runaway Groom, has three seconds and a third in six starts, but ran poorly in her first start of the meet on May 3. She faded after pressing the pace and wound up fifth at 19-1.

Race of the day: Bull Ryder, Madeittothemoon and Glitterbend, who finished close together in the sixth on April 26, head a solid field of starter allowance types going six furlongs in tonight’s seventh.

Who’s hot: Johnny Show. The 5-year-old gelding made it five consecutive victories when he won Thursday’s fourth at Hollywood Park.

Who’s not: Frances Henderson. The trainer, who is based in Northern California, is 0 for 24 in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Missionairess and Southerly Flow in the third, singling Perfectly Pretty in the fourth and using all in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/41. Money: Previous day/meet total: $18.60/$227.60. Total money bet: $292.