Switch to Dirt Figures to Favor Reba’s Gold

Given the fact Steinlen was a stakes winner on the turf, it seems strange that today’s $70,000 feature at Hollywood Park named in his honor is being run on the main track.

The recent wet weather moved the Steinlen -- and all other races originally scheduled for the turf through Monday -- to the dirt, meaning Reba’s Gold is the horse to beat in the 1 1/16-mile affair.

Owned by Alex Trebek’s Creston Farm and trained by Dan Hendricks, Reba’s Gold, a 5-year-old Slew O’Gold horse, is dropping in class after finishing third in last month’s Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita.

After setting a rapid pace, Reba’s Gold weakened to be beaten by a little more than three lengths by winner Pleasantly Perfect and a nose by runner-up Momentum. His competition isn’t as stiff today; his main rivals include a 6-year-old who has been idle for almost six months and another gelding who is 0 for 10 in 2002.

Freedom Crest will make his first appearance since finishing sixth in the Lone Star Park Handicap in May, but the son of To Freedom has won three of six at Hollywood Park and has some solid drills on his tab for trainer Richard Baltas.

Futural, who hasn’t won in about 1 1/2 years, returns to Hollywood Park for the first time since he was claimed for $80,000 earlier in the year. The best he has been able to do in five races for his new connections is a pair of seconds at Hastings Park in Vancouver.

Race of the day: Pohave, who improved a lot when sent long by trainer Eduardo Inda, will try for a repeat in today’s fourth at Hollywood Park.

Who’s hot: Rene Amescua. The underrated trainer won with 11 of his 41 starters at the recently concluded Bay Meadows meet.

Who’s not: Jeff Odintz. The New York-based trainer is seven for 137 in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Alert and Ready ‘N Gone in the sixth, Scoop Of Ice and Unrelenting Grit in the seventh, Freedom Crest and Reba’s Gold in the eighth and Lapidus, Lake Ray and Snowballs Chance in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/7. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9.40/$33.60. Total money bet: $66.