Kona Gold Goes for Two

In the first 50 runnings of the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap, only one horse has been able to win the race twice.

The great Native Diver won the Palos Verdes in 1964 and again the following year for owners Mr. and Mrs. L.K. Shapiro and trainer Buster Millerick.

Another extremely talented gelding can match Native Diver when Kona Gold tries for a second victory in the Grade II going six furlongs against seven rivals. Owned by Irwin and Andrew Molasky and trainer Bruce Headley, the son of Java Gold first won the race in 2000.

Lightly raced despite his advanced years -- the Palos Verdes will mark only his 28th career start -- Kona Gold ended a two-race losing streak by winning the El Conejo Handicap on New Year’s Day in his first start as a 9-year-old.

He’ll stretch out a sixteenth of a mile today to a distance that has been his best. Eight of his 14 victories have come at six furlongs and seven of his wins have come at Santa Anita.

Those who will try to knock off the favorite include Disturbingthepeace, who hasn’t run since finishing seventh in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint; Radiata, who was beaten a neck by Kona Gold at 17-1 in the El Conejo; Mellow Fellow, who has lost six in a row since being purchased by Sid and Jenny Craig; Avanzado, who is adding blinkers; D’wildcat and Hombre Rapido, who has won two in a row against lesser competition.

Race of the day: Lady Tak, who is unbeaten in three starts for owner Bill Heiligbrodt and trainer Steve Asmussen, is scheduled to face nine other 3-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Tiffany Lass at the Fair Grounds. The distance is one mile. A daughter of Mutakddim, who is a son of Seeking The Gold, Lady Tak has won her races by a combined 20 lengths and this will be her first start around two turns. Donnie Meche is the rider.

Who’s hot: Matt Garcia. The jockey won with six of his first 29 mounts at Santa Anita.

Who’s not: Dale Whittaker. The rider was 0 for 25 at Aqueduct.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Distinction in the first, using Cunning Play, Film Critic and Teresa Ann in the second and Keepers Hill and No Approval in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/72. Money: Previous day/meet total: $22.40/$436. Total money bet: $412.