Expectations Are Weighty for Azeri

For the second time in her career, Azeri will be asked to carry 127 pounds when she attempts to defend her title in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Azeri, who carried 125 when she won the Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap on May 24, carried 127 when she won the Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap last Oct. 2 at Santa Anita. The Lady’s Secret was her prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff a little more than three weeks later. She won that race by five lengths to clinch Eclipse awards as the top older female and horse of the year.

Owned by Michael Paulson and trained by Laura De Seroux, Azeri will also be trying to extend a win streak that reached nine when she won the Milady for the second time in a row. Her only loss in 13 races came when she was second to Summer Colony in the La Canada at Santa Anita on Feb. 9, 2002.

Azeri, a 5-year-old Jade Hunter mare, worked five furlongs in 1:01 Saturday at San Luis Rey Downs.

Bare Necessities, who has won her last three starts, is among only four other probables for the Grade I at 1 1/8 miles. The others Keys To The Heart, Tropical Blossom and Sister Girl Blues.

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Fresh off winning five races Saturday, Patrick Valenzuela came back with four more wins Sunday, including the $102,250 Quicken Tree Stakes atop 2-1 favorite Continental Red.

The leading rider for the first time in his career at the Santa Anita winter-spring meet this year, Valenzuela’s weekend surge put him ahead of Victor Espinoza in the Hollywood Park standings. He has ridden 50 winners, four more than Espinoza.

Continental Red, after three dismal performances against better competition to begin 2003, responded to a drop in class with California-breds for his seventh win in 50 races for owner-breeders Sharon and Wes Fitzpatrick and trainer Ian Jory.

In beating Shalini and Lily’s Lad, who finished in a dead-heat for second, by 4 1/2 lengths, the 7-year-old Flying Continental gelding tracked the pace of Lily’s Lad for most of the 1 1/2 miles on turf, then took charge through the stretch to win in 2:26.66.

It was the third time Continental Red has won at 12 furlongs, which is three more than the rest of the field combined.