A Day for Fresh Starts

Hollywood Park isn’t the only track beginning another meet this afternoon.

About 15 minutes after $32,000 maiden fillies and mares are sent on their way in the opener of a 35-day season in Inglewood, Golden Gate Fields begins its marathon run of 105 days.

There are no stakes races on the eight-race program in Albany, but Hollywood Park has the $70,000 Bien Bien Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf. It’s a prep for the $500,000 Hollywood Derby on Dec. 1.

After Paxtecum and Sweet Stepper were scratched Tuesday, a field of 10 was left for the Bien Bien, which was won a year ago by the now retired Mizzen Mast.

Only two of the contenders are coming off victories and the hottest of that pair is Asong For Billy.

Since being claimed for $40,000 on July 4 by trainer Paul Aguirre for Wong’s Stable Inc., the Unbridled’s Song gelding has won three in a row, among them a 5 1/2-length romp at Del Mar in his only previous start on the turf. He will be ridden by Iggy Puglisi, who has been aboard for all three victories.

Vronsky, a Danzig colt trained by Kristin Mulhall for owner Steve Taub, broke his maiden in his turf debut on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita. The second-and-third place finishers in that race both won their next starts.

Race of the day: The fifth at Hollywood Park is a 1 1/4-mile affair on the turf and begins the meet’s first pick four, the bet of choice for many fans.

Who’s hot: Bobby Frankel. He led the standings here with 23 wins during the spring-summer meet and will send out three horses today -- Mont Saint Michel and Indigo Myth in the fifth and True Phenomenon in the Bien Bien.

Who’s not: Patrick Valenzuela. The leading rider here during the spring-summer meet, Valenzuela has decided to serve three five-day suspensions he had previously appealed and he will be absent through Nov. 24.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Indigo Myth, Mont Saint Michel and Tricky Travis in the fifth, singling Correct Meow in the sixth, Asong For Billy, Golden Arrow and Vronsky in the seventh and J.T.’s Song, Calcupbound and Dinnerathepalms in the eighth.

Winners: (Final for Oak Tree): Previous day/meet total: 2/74. Money: Previous day/meet total: $17.20/$439. Total money bet: $460.