Olmodavor Delivers for Absent Mandella

Even in his absence, Richard Mandella owns the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap.

Unable to attend the Grade III at Hollywood Park because he missed a return flight while out of town, the hall of fame trainer won the race for a record seventh time thanks to Olmodavor’s late rally.

Last for most of the way in a field reduced to five after Gift Of The Eagle, Buckland Manor and Tenaja Trail scratched, the 4-year-old A.P. Indy colt wore down an unlucky Nose The Trade to win in 1:49.16 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Owned by Wertheimer Farm and ridden by Alex Solis, Olmodavor, the 6-5 favorite, had been a distant second to Medaglia d’Oro and Mineshaft in a pair of Grade II contests earlier this year, but the Native Diver was his first stakes victory.

Overall, this was the fourth win in nine starts for Olmodavor, who needed every bit of the help he received when Legendary Weave, Total Impact and Nose The Trade carved out a quick pace (23.35, 46.63 and 1:10.61 for six furlongs).

Looking for his second victory in three starts since joining the barn of trainer Bobby Frankel, Nose The Trade, the 4-1 fourth choice, put away his two pace rivals, drew clear into the stretch under jockey Patrick Valenzuela, had a three-length lead with an eighth of a mile to run, but couldn’t quite last. The margin of victory was a half-length.

“[Mandella] called me a few hours ago to tell me he wasn’t going to make it back here in time,” said assistant trainer Becky Witzman. “He told Alex to ride him how he wanted. Alex knows the horse. He didn’t get the break that we wanted him to get, but it turned out all right.”

Solis, who won the Native Diver for the first time, became the sixth jockey to win the race for Mandella. Previously, the trainer had won with Fernando Toro (Menswear, 1983), Laffit Pincay Jr. (Hopeful Word, 1986), Chris McCarron (Best Pal, 1994), Gary Stevens (Gentlemen, 1996 and Refinado Tom, 1997) and Kent Desormeaux (Puerto Madero, 1998).

“I was laying back there early, eating mud and waiting for the right opportunity to make our move,” Solis said. “During the early part, I thought I was going to win easy because I felt they were going a good pace up front.

“But, when we got to the three-sixteenths pole, [Nose The Trade] kicked in another gear. Luckily, I hit my horse a couple of times and he took off down the stretch.”

Chinkapin finished third, Legendary Weave was fourth and Total Impact finished last in his first start since winning the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap in May. *

Lady Annaliese, the 3-2 favorite, won for the second time in three U.S. starts, beating 5-1 third choice and pacesetter Go On Baby by 2 1/2 lengths in the $68,250 Hermosa Beach Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Owned by a partnership that includes Frankel, the 4-year-old filly, who won once in five starts in New Zealand before coming to the United States, completed the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:27.07 under Solis.

*

Making his first start in California and first for trainer Jeff Mullins, Boston Common, the 7-10 favorite, led every step of the way to win the $60,500 Oakland Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

Over a track labeled muddy, the 4-year-old son of Boston Harbor beat 3-1 second choice My Captain by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:09.04 for the six furlongs. Ridden by Chad Schvaneveldt, Boston Common won for the ninth time in 27 starts and all four of his victories this year have come at different tracks.

Previously, the Richard Englander-owned colt had scored at Charles Town, Delaware Park and Laurel.