Cassidy Seeks Another Stakes Victory Today

About two hours after Funny Cide tries to complete the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes, trainer Jim Cassidy will try for his second stakes win in six days with Star Vega.

Cassidy, who won the Manhattan Beach Stakes on Sunday with Katdogawn, will also send out Lady’s Mantle in the $200,000 Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

The Honeymoon, a Grade II at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, is one of two stakes on the card. Four races earlier, unbeaten Bear Fan will race five other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Desert Stormer Handicap at six furlongs.

Owned by the same partnership that races Katdogawn, Star Vega has a win and a second in two U.S. starts after winning two of four in England. The 3-year-old Blue Ocean filly was second to Major Idea in the Some Sensation, then beat eventual Senorita Stakes winner Makeup Artist in the Providencia on April 13 at Santa Anita.

The other main contenders in the Honeymoon are Atlantic Ocean, the 121-pound high weight, Gotdream, who will be making her first start since winning the Hidden Light at Santa Anita last Oct. 25, and Rutters Renegade, the Senorita runner-up.

Race of the day: Candy Ride, a 4-year-old bred in Argentina, will make his American debut for trainer Ron McAnally and owner Sid Craig in today’s seventh at Hollywood, a $58,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles. The son of Ride The Rails won all three of his races in Argentina by a combined 28 lengths. Two of the wins were in Group I races.

One for the road: State City, who won six of 11 in Dubai, will make his U.S. debut in the $250,000 True North Breeders’ Cup Handicap, the seventh race on Belmont Park’s marathon card. The 4-year-old son of Carson City should be tucked just off what is expected to be a rapid pace. He beat a good field -- including Avanzado and Captain Squire -- in the $2-million Dubai Golden Shaheen in his last start, March 29.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Agorein and Scenic Wonder in the third, singling Palmarola in the fourth and using Fun And Sun, Continuously and Albert G in the fifth.

Winners (through Friday): Previous day/meet total: 3/87. Money: Previous day/meet total: $14.20/$482. Total money bet: $550.