Price Could Be Light for Chandtrue

The shortest-priced winner of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship was Lucky Mel, who in 1956 returned $2.50 for every $2 bet for his victory with John Longden aboard. But that distinction is in jeopardy today when Chandtrue takes on only four opponents at Hollywood Park.

Against a Juvenile field weakened considerably when Roman Ruler was forced to skip the race because of a minor foot problem, Chandtrue is expected to have little trouble maintaining a perfect record in his fourth start.

Purchased at Keeneland for $130,000 in September, the Florida-bred Yes It’s True colt hasn’t been challenged in his three victories, winning by a combined 15 1/2 lengths.

Should he follow his wins in the Willard Proctor Memorial and Haggin Stakes with another in the $100,000-added Juvenile, Chandtrue will become the first horse to sweep all three races since Squirtle Squirt in 2000.

With jockey Corey Nakatani absent from Hollywood Park this week, Victor Espinoza, who has never won the Juvenile, will ride Chandtrue for the first time. His opponents are Great Power; Gentleman Count, who was second in both the Proctor and Haggin; Actexcutive, a distant fourth in his first start for trainer Bob Baffert in the Haggin, and first-time starter Commandant.

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Tyler Baze, who went into the final three days of the Hollywood Park meet with a six-winner lead over Espinoza in the jockey standings, won’t add to his advantage today. Baze will be at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., for the $550,000 Claiming Crown, a series of six races for horses who have run for various claiming prices in their careers.

The richest of the races is the $150,000 Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile contest in which Baze will ride Musique Toujours for owners Lloyd DeBruycker and Richard Glassman and trainer John Sadler. The 4-year-old gelding won a $50,000 claimer by three lengths in his last start, May 22 at Hollywood Park.

Baze also is scheduled to ride Stage Player, the likely favorite in the $125,000 Emerald at 1 1/16 miles on turf; Four Checker, a contender in the $100,000 Rapid Transit at 6 1/2 furlongs, and Mighty Fine Mike in the $50,000 Express at six furlongs.

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The California Horse Racing Board was ordered Friday by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to hold a hearing before July 29 for suspended jockey Patrick Valenzuela.

Valenzuela was suspended from riding on July 2 by Hollywood Park stewards Pete Pedersen, George Slender and Tom Ward after he was reportedly unable to provide a sufficient hair sample to be tested for drugs.

Neil Papiano, Valenzuela’s attorney, said Friday his client would be available for the hearing any day, whether it is at Hollywood Park or Del Mar. Valenzuela remains on suspension from riding duties until the hearing.