Fatal Caper Is on Record Pace

With a win in this afternoon’s second race, a $16,000 claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, Fatal Caper will be more than halfway to a record.

The 4-year-old daughter of Town Caper, who is trained by A.C. Avila, is aiming for her fourth win of the Hollywood Park meet, which would leave her two shy of the record shared by three horses. Flying Jean won six in 1940, Kay Diane did the same a year later and Security Check did it in 1968.

A winner of only two of her first 16, Fatal Caper, who will break from the outside post in the field of six, began her streak with a three-quarters of a length win against $12,500 claimers in the first race of the Hollywood Park spring-summer season April 21.

Wheeled back at a higher level 11 days later, the California bred won by two lengths, then she scored again at the $12,500 level May 19.

Fatal Caper, who has won four of seven lifetime in Inglewood, has been the lone bright spot of a sour year for Avila. Take away her three recent victories and the trainer has only one win with 79 other runners in 2004.

Race of the day: Almond Blossom, who was a sharp second to eventual Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap runner-up Western Hemisphere in her first start on the Hollywood Park turf course, heads a competitive field of eight in today’s fifth race, a $50,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles on the lawn.

One for the road: Distinctive Livin gets Lasix for her first start since Oct. 8 for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., and she can break her maiden in her second career race in today’s fourth at Belmont Park. John Velazquez will ride the 3-year-old Distinctive Pro filly in the $41,000 contest at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick all using Serra Lee Trail and Alpine Sport in the first, Fatal Caper and Nellie L in the second, Chasin’ Chasan and Gone Western in the third, I’m Awesome Again and Watch Me Smoke in the fourth, Almond Blossom in the fifth, Laker Girl in the sixth, Canny Fly in the seventh and Up To Date News and Johnny Q in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/78. Money: Previous day/meet total: $18.60/$430. Total money bet: $606.