O’Brien Champ Is in Rough Stretch

How times have changed for Disturbingthepeace.

The gelded son of Bold Badgett went into last year’s $150,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap riding a five-race win streak, including victories in the Triple Bend Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park and the Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Del Mar.

Although it was not easy, he kept his roll going in the O’Brien, winning the Grade II by a head over Hot Market as the 7-10 favorite.

That was the last victory for Disturbingthepeace, who has lost six in a row entering the 2003 O’Brien, which will be run this afternoon.

Sixth of nine in the Crosby, the California-bred is among 11 older sprinters entered in the seven-furlong race. He will break from the inside post under jockey Victor Espinoza, who was aboard for three of his six wins last year.

Full Moon Madness is the 119-pound highweight in the race.

An 8-year-old Half a Year gelding owned by the Corey Family Trust and trained by Bob Marshall, he won the Robert Kerlan Memorial Handicap on the Hollywood Park turf in his first start of 2003 on July 12.

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Race of the day: Ruler’s Court, who finished a distant third at 1-5 in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 19, will try to make amends in today’s $150,000 Best Pal Stakes. The 6 1/2-furlong race is a prep for next month’s Del Mar Futurity. Other contenders include Juvenile winner Perfect Moon, recent maiden winner Siphonizer and Last Time in Town, who will be making his first start for hot trainer Jeff Mullins after winning his debut at Prairie Meadows.

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One for the road: Moyo Simba is well-spotted for his first win on the grass in today’s 11th at the Bay Meadows Fair. There’s not much in the way of pace to challenge the 4-year-old Walter Willy gelding, who has been second five times in seven previous starts on the turf. Omar Figueroa will ride for trainer Allen Severinsen.

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Exotically speaking: A pick three using Slippery When Bet and Highly Tempting in the third, singling Caroca in the fourth and using Ivan Motley, Rio Reyes and Political Rhetoric in the fifth.

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Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/50. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10.80/$285.20. Total money bet: $376.