Percentages May Favor Mitchell’s Horses Today

Hitting at a 24% clip through the first 35 days of the meet, trainer Mike Mitchell has a chance to improve his percentage on today’s card at Hollywood Park.

Mitchell, who had nine winners in his first 37 starters, has four runners on the program and all of them are live.

Stonebridge Lady, switching to jockey Patrick Valenzuela, is capable in the second if she runs back to her Feb. 26 outing at Santa Anita. She was second to South American import Meguial and a length clear of Tifonica, an upset winner here last week.

In the fifth, a $62,500 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, Mitchell and Valenzuela will team with Total Advantage, making his second start after a layoff. He was third, beaten by slightly more than a length, on May 23.

Valenzuela will ride for Mitchell again in the sixth on the class-dropping Hezafreespirit, one of the main contenders in the $8,000 claimer at seven furlongs.

In the seventh, a $62,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, Victor Espinoza and Mitchell will try for a repeat with Runaway Pro. The 4-year-old Groomstick filly made it two wins in three 2003 starts when winning by 1 1/2 lengths in a local allowance race May 25.

Race of the day: Some interesting 2-year-old fillies will get together in today’s sixth at Belmont Park, a $43,000 maiden affair at five furlongs. The field includes first-time starters Summer Squall, Storm Cat, Pulpit and Forest Wildcat, trained by Barclay Tagg, Mark Hennig, Bill Mott and Stan Hough, respectively.

One for the road: Holy Bubbette, who has won one of three, will make her first start for high-percentage trainer Tom Amoss in today’s eighth at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old Holy Bull filly should improve after the barn change and maybe she can provide jockey Brice Blanc with a rare victory.

Exotically speaking: A trifecta in the third keying Jeremy’s Quest on top with Rosie In The Sky, Sweet Olympio and Almost A Valentine in the two hole and all in the third spot.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/97. Money: Previous day/meet total: $21.80/$533.80. Total money bet: $620.