Frankel a Favorite in Murray

The Jim Murray Memorial Handicap, named for The Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, has been kind to Bobby Frankel.

Since the inaugural turf race in 1990, the Hall of Fame trainer has won it five times. He’ll try for a sixth this afternoon with Skipping. The Murray will be part of a pick six that has a carryover of $479,251.97.

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, the 5-year-old Rainbow Quest horse has never won at the Murray distance of 11/2 miles, but he did win twice at 11/4 miles and once at 15/16 miles in France before coming to this country.

In his American debut a month ago at Santa Anita, he was second to the vastly improved Special Ring at a mile and made up ground through a quick final quarter of a mile. Kent Desormeaux again will ride Skipping.

The 120-pound high weight is Startac, who was third in his first start as a 4-year-old on April 24, beaten by favored Ladies Din and Thady Quill. Owned by the family of the late Allen Paulson and trained by Laura De Seroux, Startac has never tried 12 furlongs, but he won the Secretariat at 11/4 miles last summer at Arlington Park.

Rounding out the field are The Price Spirit, Our Main Man, Lasting Tribute, Ferrari, Poker Brad, Sharbayan and Straight Flush.

At 11/2 miles, the Murray isn’t the longest race that will be run in the country today. That honor belongs to the $50,000 Hasta La Vista Handicap, the closing day feature at Turf Paradise, which is run at 17/8 miles on the turf.

Race of the day: A contentious race with 12 maiden fillies and mares kicks off the pick four at Hollywood Park.

Who’s hot: Don Mills. The trainer clinched the training title a long time ago at Turf Paradise. He has won at a 35% clip during a meet that began Sept. 28.

Who’s not: Paul Lebsock. The Turf Paradise-based trainer’s first 40 starters this year were winless.

Exotically speaking: A trifecta keying Wallahatchie on top in the fifth with Khumbu and Disturbingthepeace and Silvertonguefox in the two hole and all in the third spot.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/48. Money: Previous day/meet total: $18/$263.60. Total money bet: $328.