Track in Irvine Is a Possibility

Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Hollywood Park, is one of numerous groups interested in bidding on the old El Toro Marine Corps air base in Irvine.

The abandoned area, which totals 3,700 acres, will be up for auction by the Department of the Navy through the General Services Administration later this year.

Hollywood Park referred all inquiries about the matter to Churchill Downs Inc. and a spokesperson said the company wouldn’t comment.

However, Dan Jung, Irvine’s director of strategic programs, confirmed to the Louisville Courier-Journal that Churchill Downs had expressed interest in the property with the intention of building a race track. Jung was quoted as saying that 265 acres of the Orange County Great Park (which the land is now called) are designated for “commercial recreation uses” and that “could permit a use such as a race track.” Jung couldn’t be reached to comment further Wednesday.

Although everything is speculative at this point, a new track in Irvine would mean Hollywood Park would be closed, the land sold and its racing dates switched. Hollywood Park, which was purchased by Churchill Downs for a reported $140 million in 1999, is open for racing from late April until mid- or late-July and for about six weeks in November and December.

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Island Fashion, scratched from the Santa Maria Handicap earlier in the month, may try to become the first filly to win the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap, which will be run March 6.

Already a winner of two Grade I’s at the meet -- the La Brea Stakes and Santa Monica Handicap -- the 4-year-old daughter of Petionville is owned by Jeff Nielsen and trained by Marcelo Polanco.

“We nominated her for the Santa Anita Handicap and we might point her to that,” said Polanco. “If she comes up well to the race and we get a good weight, we’re going to think about it. I’d have to think my filly would be tough.”

Entries for the Big ‘Cap will be taken March 3. The probables for the 1 1/4-mile race are Pleasantly Perfect, who will be a solid favorite, Buddy Gil, Domestic Dispute, Olmodavor, Royal Place, Saint Buddy, Sarava, Southern Image, Star Cross and Toccet.